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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STRUT 

WMSTH.N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  •73-4903 


%0 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


D 


D 


D 

n 


D 


D 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculAe 


pn    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I   Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I   Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  at/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  !•  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  itt  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-itre  u.iiques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I     I   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagies 


The 
tot 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restauries  et/ou  pelliculies 

0    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicolories,  tacheties  ou  piquies 


j      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  ditachies 

Showthroughy 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualiti  in6gale  de  {'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materit 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponibie 


rri  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

rn  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

|~n  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refiimed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d 'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M  filmies  A  nouveau  de  fa^on  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


The 
pos 
oft 
film 


Ori{ 
beg 
the 
sior 
oth 
firsi 
sior 
ori 


The 
she 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
dift' 
enti 
beg 
righ 
reqi 


,4ft 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

La  BibliotMque  de  la  Villa  da  Montreal 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
g6nAroslt6  de: 

La  Bibliothkitia  de  la  Villa  da  Montrtel 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  iceeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetd  de  l'exemplaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacit  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmfo  en  commen9ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  f  ilm^s  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


IVIaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
.T.£!i:hod: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  f  ilm«  A  "partir 
de  Tangle  sup6rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m^thode. 


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2 

3 

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iNrRbw&n6>f. 


IJWUCED  by  a  teme^  duty  to  my  coUliityy  tlfid 
by  theafiftUcation'inf  mahy  q/^thy  <worihyyH&iida,»i>1iieo 
vfhomarc^  tAeJlrht  thu^acteri,  I  have  concluded  to /lUd- 
Uih  thc'foUo^ir^  SftarrdHve  ^  ihe'ixfi^i>i^<Mnary  acinic 
''iftriy  cmfitivittfyxmd'the'diBtvveriea  ^Itith  Tmdde'in  Hie 
'eourae  V*  We  mMe,  of  the  crUel  tifid  rereritit^ks  diafioiitiok 
yind  behtnioiirof  fheeneitvyt t^ibtii'dsfhe'fitiat^eraHn  llHihr 
Hov)er  i  from  vhich  the  ttaie'fiotttktani'iiW  evet>y  ^i-ddd- 
lioh^of  character  urhOng  (he'^ple;to"the  iodriy  iUter  6f 
the  koit,  httty  ^TAfUiftf 'Weft 'V»C^mcfe9  da  'ihey^ihaUthBXk 
fihr/ierto  ^t^  tnfo  'Ji¥hOie&.     'Smte  mih>ai'ed^6ifim 
iHtb  -dffieey  tn-in^e  ^tdna^^lHo  ikdd  themitdfy  o/V^e 
i¥lteititfa'6f  thii  ajfdt^Wifh'f/ltta^e  tdrmaairCd^ereflce^ 
^m/y'^o  Hie  fAtl^taofiTie  ^diflah  Tdiit^y  s  ^y  '*onie 
•tore  ^jfir^frrred-h  jith^a  ^  mtst  dHd'yif^t'by  irfe  t)tf^fn' 
Jhhmce.  Thehfit'aki'ta  b/f'f rn(9frj)  W  ^hre^akd  kWritU 

mfreemei/i in, -iom^ t^  pfe^mtrnt^r-fa^ili^rlnik^ti^ 

y»hicki^mynfanr  tMrtj^,  iv\iutd  be  the  m6at  hWhefmH 
the  libertiea  and  hafipineaa  of  thia  couMi'y  ;  iwrf,  io  "^tr 
aa  yUdh  >1^^^  VdX^A  ftlace,  rob  ua  qf  the  victory  we 
have  obtained  at  the  expense  (^«&  mneh  bloodnndtreaaure, 
I  ahould  have  exhibited  to  the  public  a  hiatory  qfthe 
facta  herein  contained^  aoon  after  my  exchange.,  had  not 
the  urgency  of  my  private  affaira^  together  vdth  more 
urgent  public  buaineaa^  demanded  my  attention^  till  a  fev> 
weeka  before  the  date  hereof.  The  reader  will  readily 
diactrny  that  a  narrative  oj[  thia  aort  could  not  have  been 


iv 


INTRODUCTIO^T' 


■ '-. 


written  when  Iwaa  a  ftriaoner  :  My  trunk  and  writingg 
were  qfien  tearched  tinder  variout  firetence*  ;  to  that  I 
never  wrote  a  syllable,  or  made  even  a  rough  minute  where- 
on,  I  might  predicate  thit  narrative,  &ut  trusted  »olely  to 
my  memory  for  the  whole  f  I  have,  however,  taken  the 
greatest  care  and  paint  to  recollect  the  fact*  and  arrange 
them  :  but  at  they  touch  a  variety  qf  characters  and  oppO' 
site  interests,  J  am  sensible  that  all  wiU  not  btri  pleased 
with  the  relation  qf  them  :  Be  this  as  it  will,  I  have  made 
truth  my  invariable  guide,  and  stake  my  honor  on  the 
truth  qf  the  facts,  I  have  been  very  generous  with  the 
British  in  giving  them  full  and  ample  credit  for  all  their, 
good  usage,  of  any  considerable  consequence,  which  Imet  V, 
mth  among  them,  during  my  captivity  s  which  was  easily 
done,  as  Imet  with  but  little,  in  comparison  of  the  bad* 
which,  by  reason  qf  the  great  plurality  qf  it,  could  not  be 
contained  in  so  concise  a  narrative  ;  so  that  I  am  certain 
that  I  have  more  fully  enumerated  the  frvours  which  I 
receiifsd,  than  the  abuses  whicA  I  suffered.  The  critic 
wiU  be  pleased  to  excuse  any  inaccuracies  in  the  per* 
formante  itself,  as  the  authw  kff  unfortunately  miMed^f 
.u  liberal  education. 

ETHAJ^  AIaLEJ^.    . 
fisNsiNGroy,MARea2  5,1779. 


r  '< 


■■■iit 


NARRATIVE 
OF 

Col.  ETHAN  ALLEN'S 

CAPTIVITY. 

EVER  since  I  arrived  to  a  state  of  man- 
hood, and  acquainted  myself  with  the  gener- 
al history  of  mankind,  I  have  felt  a  sincere 
passion  for  liberty.  The  history  of  nations, 
doomed  to  perpetual  slavery,  in  consequence 
of  yielding  up  to  tyrants  their  natural-bom 
liberties,  I  read  with  a  sort  of  philosophical 
horror  ;  so  that  the  first  systematical  and 
bloody  attempt,  at  Lexington,  to  enslave  A- 
merica,  thoroughly  electrified  my  mind,  and 
fully  determined  me  to  take  part  with  my 
country  :  And,  while  I  was  wishing  for  an 
opportunity  to  signalize  myself  in  its  behalf, 

A  9 


^ 


A  NARRATIVE  OF 


.1 


directions  were  privately  sent  to  me  from  the 
then  colony  (now  state)  of  Connecticut,  to 
raise  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and  if  possi- 
ble, with  them  to  surprise  9nd  take  the  fortress, 
Ticonderoga.  This  enterprise  I  cheerfully 
undertook  ;  and,  after  first  guarding  all  the 
sever4 .  f^$aes0  th^t  led  thitber»to  cut  off  all 
intelligence  between  the  garrison  and  the  coun- 
try, made  afqre^  march  from  Bennington,  and 
arrived  at  the  Isike  opposite  to  Ticonderoga,  on 
the  evening  of  tlie.  ninth  d^  of  May,  1775^ 
with  :two  himdred  and  thirty  valiant  Green 
Mountain  Boys  ;  and  it  was  with  the  utmost 
difficulty  th^t  I  procured  boats  to  cross  the 
Jake,  However,  I  landed  eighty  three  men 
near  the  garrison,  and  sent  the  boats  back  fde 
the  rear  guard,  commanded  by  Col.  Sem 
W^mcr;  but  the  day  began  to  d^wn,  and  1 
found  myself  under  a  necessity  to  attack  the 
fort^  before  the  rear  could  cross  the  lake ;  and, 
as  it  was  viewed  hazardous,  I  harrangued  the 
oiScers  and  soldiers  in  the  manner  following : 
"  Friends  and  fellow  soldiers,  you  have  for  a 
,i(Uimber  of  yeirs  past,  been  a  scourge  and  ter- 
ror to  arbitrary  power.     Your  Vfdor  has  been 


COL.  £•  AttfeWfe   <{AiPtlVITY. 


by  the  Advke  9lM  Mefi  Id  me^  Mm  ^QMc- 
ml  AsMfnUf  of  Comcctieuty  t^  pucpriie  aad 
tiA;e  the  garriMH  htm  bdbR  u*.  I  no^  pro- 
poae  ta  JidviiicebefiMe  yon^'  Mid, »  pcnGB» 
condoct  you  thrMgh  ^hc  nvkkxt^gitt}  foiwfi 
must  thb  fnctuft^  either  quit  our  ^reteflsroae 
tovalofv^i^posiisBs  mamAvm  lof  this  fdrtms 
in  a  itw  miiiolBv;:  «ui,  iiushnash^  as  it  it  a 
dc(^)Cfiite  atjiWfitpt,  wliich  nonel^ut^thfelMiveit 
«f  mm  4^  uiidcrudBC,  I  do  opt  urge  it  on 
«iif  oojfitriry  t»  his  nfilt  YoathKl  will  unden- 
tafctt^nrfuntarily,  poiflt  3roiit*fiiDctek8**^  'i 
Tiie  men  being,  at  this  timey  dfiavin  up  i|i 
three  rank^,  eaeh  poised  his  inlec^i  i  ptder- 
«d<^ih  toihce  tothenghft:  and/atthe  head 
of  (he  cent^-tle,  ttiarehed  them  immeilntefy 
to  the  wicket  gate  ^foresaid,  where  I  found  a 
sehtiy  posted,  whel  i^s^mly  snapped  his  ftisee 
at  ttie  :  I  ran  hnmcdiatefy  tow^dd  Win,  and 
hef  retreated  tiiroughthc  covered  way  into  the 
parade  withm  the  garrison,  gave  a  halibo,  and 
raij  under  a  bomb-proof.  My  party,  who  fol- 
lowed me  ipto  the  fort,  1  fortiicd  on  the  parade 


i 

\ 


fi 


r 

ft 


t  { 


,  I 


v\ 


f  A  NARRATIVE  OF 

in  such  manner  as  to  face  the  two  barracks^ 
which  faced  each  other.  The  garrison  being 
asleep,  except  the  sentries,  we  gave  tlire^  huz- 
zas which  greatly  surprised  them.  One  of  the 
•entries  made  a  pass  at  one  df  my  officers  with 
a  charged  bayonet,  and  slighdy  wounded  him: 
my  first  thought  was  to  kill  him  with  my 
sword  ;  but.  In  an  instant,  I  altered  the  design 
and  fiiry  of  the  blow  to  a  slight  cut  on  the  side 
q{  the  head ;  upon  which  he  dropped  hb  gun, 
and  asked  quarter^ '  which  I  readily  granted 
him,  and  demanded  cf  him  the  place  where 
the  commanding  officer  kept ;  he  shewed  me  a 
pair  of  stairs  in  the  front  of  a  barrack,  on  the 
west  part  of  ^e  garrison,  which  led  up  to  a 
jsecond  story  in  said  barrack,  to  which  I  imme- 
-diately  repaired,  and  ordered  the  commander, 
Capt.  Delaplace,  to  come  forth  instantly,  or  I 
would  sacrifice  the  whole  garrison  ;  at  which 
the  Ci^.  came  immediately  to  the  door,  with 
his  breeches  in  his  hand ;  when  I  ordered  him 
to  deliver  to  me  the  fort  instantly  :  he  a^ed 
,me  by  what  authority  I  demanded  it :  I  ans|- 
weredhim,  "  In  the  name*  of  the  great  Jehosf 
vah,  and  the  Continental  Congress."    The  au- 


COL.  E.  Allen's  captivity.         1> 

thority  of  the  Congress  being  very  little  known 
at  that  tune,  he  began  to  speak  again ;  but  I 
interrupted  him,  and,  with  my  drawn  sword 
over  his  head,  again  demanded  an  immediate 
surrender  of  the  garrison  ;  with  which  he  then 
complied,  and  ordered  his  men  to  be  forthwith 
paraded  without  arms*  as  he  had  given  up  the 
garrison  :  In  the  mean  time  some  of  my  offi- 
cers had  given  orders,  and,  in  consequence 
thereof,  sundry  of  the  barrack  doors  were  beat 
down,  and  about  one  third  of  the  garrison  im- 
prisoned, which  consisted  of  the  said  com- 
mander, a  Lieutenat  Feltham,  a  conductor  of 
artillery,  a  gimner,  two  Serjeants,  and  forty- 
four  rank  aiid  file ;  about  one  hundred  pie- 
ces of  cannon,  one  thirteen  inch  mortar,  and  a 
number  of  swivels.  This  surprise  was  cairi- 
ed'into  execution  in  the  gray  of  the  morning 
of  the  tenth  day  of  May,  1775.  The  sun 
seemed  to  rise  that  morning  with  a  superior 
lustre  ;  and  Ticonderoga  and  its  dependencies 
smiled  oU  its  conquerors,  who  tossed  about  the 
flowing  bowl,  and  wished  success  to  Congress, 
and  the  liberty  and  freedom  of  America.  Hap- 
py it  was  for  me,  at  that  time,  that  the    then 


10 


7A  IWit»R^¥fV^E    X)f 


future  fi^gtsof'theb<>Q(kW4kte/VeK^^^^ 
wards  unfokkdaoiiiaWftte^^cttb'rif  twb'years 
and  ^ight  months  ifttpiisoWteeiit>(^c¥e^H5*d  from 
my  -view.    But  to^retuni'  t6*ijr'n^rh^ibh :  tol. 
Warner,  with  the  pear  .giiarrd,  e^Oss^d^trikt, 
and  joined  mc  early  -ih  the  tmofHiiig.  Hv1i6tnl 
sent  of{^  without  k>ss  of  time,  with^ibout'bhb 
hundred  men,  to  take  tposses^on  of  'Growti 
Point,  which  was  {garrisoned  with  ^a  serjetfnt 
and  twelve  men  ;  which  he  took  ^posseslsion  "df 
the  same  day,  as  alsoof  upwards  ofK>iie  hundrei^ 
pieces  of  cannon.     But  one  thing  now  reHvikled 
^obe  done,  to  make  ourselves  complete  masters 
of  lake  Champlain;  this  uas  to  possess  oursetves 
of  a  sIoG^  of  war,  which  was  then  lying  at  Sti 
jQ|ih's  ;  to   effect  which,   it  was  agreetl  in  a 
council  of  v/ar,  to  arm  and  man  out  a  certain 
schooner,  which  lay  at   South  Bay,  and  that 
Capt.  (no\y  general)  Arnold  should  command 
that  I  should  command  the  batteaux. 
1rhe  necessary  prtparations  being  made,  we 
set  sail  troftiT^iconierdga,  in  quest  of  the  sloop 
whicK  was  much  larger,  and  carried  more  guns 
and  heavier  metal  than  the   schooner.    Gene- 
ral Arnold,  with  the  schooner  sailing  faster 


1- 


ichafter- 
wbyears 
nid  irom 
bhVtol. 

''Grown 
s^rjeaflt 

tiundml 
emakled 
masters 
urse^€« 
^  at  Sti 
e<l  in  a 
certain 
id  that 
iimand 
tteaux, 
Ide,  we 
e  sloop 
'e  guns 
Gene- 
faster 


COL.  E.    ally's  .C^iT^V;|Ty.  U;^ 

than  the  batt(^ai^x,  ai^iivi^  at.-l^tr  J^tk's.;  and^ 
by  surprise,  po^,s^ssi?«l,  ^^^^^ 
befqre  I.could  sorpLvs  W^\  %:-  b^^tt^yaci:    Ha» 
also  made  pmoner^s,jQf  .a,  sqrgg^  twebrO'' 

men,  who,w^re^gaIT^9^.d^t^  Ifc  is. 

worthy . rei|aark  thsil;,^  ag^sop^^ a§. g^fiea^,  Act 

npld  Had  securpd  the  pnspjaei'^^n.bpft^d*  apft 
had  made  prepan^on  for,  sjailing,.  the^  wind^, 

which  but  a  iFew  hours  before  wa^  fnesH  iihiilfi, 
south,  ^d  well  served  to  carry  us  to  S^tJQh^!?*. 
now  shifted,  and  came  fresh  from  the  noi;!]!  ft 
and,  in  about  one  hour's  tipe,  Gen,  Ad;npl4,>. 
sailed  with  the  prize  and  scjiopuer  for  Tic9n-„ 
deroga.     When  I  met  hirfi  with  my  pai*y>, 
within  a  few  miles  of  St.  John^s,  he  ss^uted.ine. 
with'  a  discharge  of  cannon,  which  I  return^.4^ 
with  a  volley  of  small  arms :  This,  being  re- 
peated three  times,  I  went  on  board  the  sloppy 
with  my  party,  where  several  loyal  Congress 
healths  were  drank.     We  were  now  masters 
of  Idee  Champlain,  and  the  garrison  depenfjing, 
thereon.     This  success   1  viewed  of  conse- 

0  la  J         0       9  * ' 

quence  in  the  scale  pf  Amerkan  pQlitic4V  fcr,,, 
if  a  settlement^  b^tWiem  the"tl^en,  colonies  arid*' 
Great-Britattl;.ftad°so6fi  takerf -pteoe,  it  would " 


r 


» 


•  ,     "   0         « 
.    •    •«        0 

•  •   •-• 


0  3      0 

0  V  a 
a    a  t 


0  o 


? 


12 


A  NARRATIVE  OF 


■■f 


have  been  easy  to  have  restored  these  asquisi- 
tions ;  but  viewing  the  then  future  consequen- 
ces  of  a  cruel  wary  as  it  has  really  proved  to  be^ 
and  the  comiipiand  of  that  lake,  garrisons,  artiU 
leiy,  &c;  it  must  be  viewed  to  be  of  signal  im- 
portance to  the  American  cause,  and  it  is  mar- 
vellous to  me,  that  we  ever  lost  the  command  of 
it    Nothmg  but  taking  a  Burguoyne,  with  a 
whole  British  army,  could,  in  my  opinion, 
atone  for  it ;  and,  notwithstanding  such  an'ex- 
traordinary  victory,  we  must  be  obliged  to  re- 
gain the  command  of  that  lake  again,  be  the 
cost  what  it  will :  By  doing  this,  Canada  will 
easily  be  brought  into  union  and  confederacy 
•  with  the  Unite4  States  of  America.     Such  an 
event  would  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the 
western  tribes  of  Indians  to  carry  on  a  war 
with  us,  and  be  a  solid  and  durable  bar  against 
any  farther  inhuman  barbarities  committed  on 
our  frontier  inhabitants,  by  cruel  and  blood- 
thirsty savages ;    for  it  is  impossible  for  them 
to  carrjc  cpiH  U^,  .except  they  are  supported 
.b3?jhe  'tVade*and  ctelhmerofe  of  .some  civilized 
•.  jfation ;  which  jtq  tjiem  would* bcimpracticable, 


•  CC«««CO«t  0        „!>.«.        0 

t     »■       ae       oo       I.        (ti*       !•*• 
•   ••  ooc        c       •••,,,••« 

e         •00000       0       0       0        0(        * 


COL.  E.  ALLEN'S  CAPTIVITY. 


13 


did  Canada  compose  a  part:  of  the  American 
empire.  j       .  ? 

;  Early  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  the  little  armvi 
under  the  command  of  the  Generals  Scuyler 
and  Montgomery,  were  ordered  to  advance  into 
Canada..  I  was  at  Ticonderoga,  when  this  or- 
der arrived ;  and  the  Generals,  with  most  of  the 
field  pfficers,  requested  me  to  attend  them  in 
the  expedition ;  and,  though  at  that  time  I  had 
no  commission  from  Congress,  yet  they  engag- 
ed me,  that  I  should  be  considered  as  an  offi^ 
cer,  tlie  same  as  though  I  had  a  comn>ission  : 
and  should,  as  occasion  might  require,  com- 
mand certain  detachments  of  the  army — This 
I  considered  as  an  honorable  offer,  and  did  not 
hesitate  to  comply  with  it,  and  advanced  with 
the  army  to  the  isle  Aux-Noix  ;  from  wheiice 
I  was  ordered  by  the  general  to  go  in  company 
with  Major  Brown,  and  certain  interpreters, 
through  the  woods  into  Canada,  with  letters  to 
the  Canadians,  and  to  let  them  know,  that  the 
design  of  the  army  was  only  against  the  Eng- 
lish garrisons,  and  not  the  country,  their  liber- 
ties, or  religion:  and  having,  through  much 
danger,  negociated  this  business,  I  returned  to 

r 


# 


B 


14 


A  NARRATIVE  OF 


the  Isle  Aux '  Noix  the  fore  jMut  of  September, 
when  Gen.  Schuyler  returned  to  Albany  •  and 
in  consequence  the  command  devolved  upon 
Gen.  Montgomery,  whom  I  assisted  in  laying 
a  line  of  circumvallation  round  the  fortress,  St^ 
John's.     After  which  I  was  ordered,  by  die 
general,  to  make  a  second  tour  into  Canadai 
upon  nearly  the  same  design  as  before ;  and 
tvithsU  to  observe  the  disposition,  designs  and 
movements  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  country. 
This  reconnoitre  I  undertook  with  reiuctanbe, 
cboosing  rather  to  assist  at  the  siege  of  St. 
John's,  which  was  then  closely  invested ;  but 
^y  esteem  for  the  general's  person,  and  op^in* 
ion  of  him  as  a  politician  and  brave  officer,  in- 
i^uced  me  to  proceed. 

I  passed  through  all  the  parishes  on  the 
fiver  Sorrel,  to  a  parish  at  the  mouth  of  the 
$^9ie,  which  is  called  by  the  same  name, 
pr^a^hipg  politics  ;  and  went  from  thence 
9.0f osa  the  Sorrel  to  the  river  St.  Lawrence, 
and  up  the  river  through  the  parishes  to  Lon- 
gueil,  and  so  far  met  with  good  suecess  as 
Hn  Uitneraiit.  In  this  round,  my  guard  were 
C^a^dtwiSf  my  interpreter^  and  some  few  at- 


U\']j 


COL.  £.  ALLEN'S    CAPTIVITY. 


US 


tendants  excepted.     On  the  morniog;  of  this 
24th  day  of  September,  I  set  out  with  n^y 
guard  of  about  eighty  men,  from  LongueiU 
to  go  to  La  Prairie;   from  whence  I  dete^** 
mined  to  go  to  Gen.  Montgomery '&  camj^,^ 
but  had  not  advanced  two  miles  before  I  ipet 
with  Major  Brown,   who  has^lnce  betrn  a4* 
yanced  to  the  rank  of  a  Colonel,  V'ho  desir^ 
me  to  halt,  saying  that  he  had  somethiivg,  of 
importance  to  communlcajte  to  me  and  in.y 
confidants ;    upon  which  I  halted  the  party- 
and  went  into  an  house,  and  took  a  private 
room  with  him  and  several  of  ipy  associates, 
where  Gol.  Brown  prc^oaed  that,  *•  Provid- 
ed I  would  return  to  Longueil,  and  procure 
some  canoes,  so  as  to  cross  the  river  St.  Law- 
rence a  little  north  of  Moutrcaljhe  woiuUI  cross 
}ta  little  to  the  south  of  the  town,  with  near 
two  hundred  men,  as  he  had  boats  sufficient; 
and  that  we  would  make  ourselves  masters 
of  Montreal." — This    plan  was  readily  a- 
dopted  by  me  and  those  in  council ;  and  in 
consequence  of  which  I  returned  to  Longueil 
collected  a  few   canoes,  and  added   about 
tjiirty  English  Americans. to  my  party,  and 


u 


A   NARRATIVE  OF 


crossed  the  river  in  the  night  of  the  24th,  a- 

greeable  to  the  before  proposed  plan.  Rfy 
whole  party,  at  this  time,  consisted  of  about 
onehiimlred  and  ten  men,  near  eighty  of 
whom  wei^e  Canadians.  We  were  the  most 
6f  the  night  crossing  the  river,  as  we  had  so 
few  tanoes  that  they  had  to  pass  and  re-pasi 
three  times,  to  carry  my  party  across.  Soon 
aftet  day* break,  I  set  a  guard  between  me 
aiid  the  town  with  special  orders  to  let  no 
person  whatever  pass  or  re-pais  them,  atid 
another  guard  on  the  other  end  of  the  road, 
with  like  directions ;  in  the  mean  time,  I 
reconnoitered  the  best  ground  to  make  a  de«> 
fence,  expecting  Col.  Brown's  party  was  lan- 
ded on  the  other  side  of  the  town,  he  having 
the  day  before,  agreed  to  give  three  huzzas 
withhismen  early  in  the  morning, which  sig- 
nal I  was  to  return,  that  we  might  each  know 
that  both  parties  were  landed;  but  the  sun, 
by  this  time,  being  near  two  hours  high,  and 
the  sign  failing,  I  began  to  conclude  myelf 
to  be  in  a  premunire,  and  would  have  cross- 
ed the  river  back  again,  but  I  knew  the  en- 
emy would  have   discovered   such  an  at- 


€0L.    E.   ALLEN*S  CAPtlVltY.  17 

tempt ;  and,  as  there  could  not  more  than 
one  third  part  of  my  troops  cross  at  on^  time, 
the  other  two  thirds  would  of  course  fall 
into  their  hands.  This  I  could  not  reconcile 
to  my  own  feelings  as  a  man,  much  less  as 
an  officer  :  I  therefore  concluded  to  main- 
taili  the  ground,  if  possible,  and  all  to  fare 
alike.  In  consequence  of  this  resolution,  I 
dispatched  two  messenger's,  one  toLa  Prairie, 
to  Col.  Brown,  and  the  other  to  L'Assomp- 
tion,  a  French  settlement,  to  Mr.  Walker, 
who  wnls  in  our  interest,  requesting  their 
speedy  assistance^  giving  them,  at  the  saine 
time,  to  understand  tny  critical  situation  : 
In  the  mean  time,  sundry  persons  came  to 
my  guards,  pretending  to  be  friends,  but 
were  by  thepi  t'akeii  prisoners  and  brought 
to  me.  These  I  ordered  "to  confinement, 
till  their  friendship  coiild  be  farther  coiifirih- 
ed  ;  fori  was' jealpiis  they  were  spies,  as 
they  proved  to  be  ^ftet wards :  One  of  the 
j^rinqipail  of  tjiem  maldng  his  escape,  expos- 
ed the  weakness/^ my  pt«rty,  which  was  the 
final   cause  oT  niy   mibfortune  ;    for  I  have 

bc'c'i  since  informed  ihat  Mr.   VValker,   a- 

R  2 


16 


A  NARAATiyS  OS 


H* 


I  1 


fgrcjc^^bli^tomy  <k^re,  exerted  kimself;  ai^^ 
h«d  mUed  a  poa^der^ic^  number  of  vg^^ 
for  m^r  assistance,  which  brought  him  ii>to 
diH^ulty  aiterwacdf ;  but,  upon  heair^ng  of 
my;  mis^jptune,  he  disbanded  them  again. 
,  The  town  of  Montreal  was  in  great  tumult 
Oen^  Carlton  a^4:^!>5i  royal  party^  m^de  ^Vr 
ery  preparation  to  go  on  board  their  vessels 
pf  force,  as  ^  was  ai^ter wards  informe^d*  bi|i^t 
the  spy^  escaping  from  my  guard  to  thetawn» 
occasioned  an  alteration  in,  thjsir  policy,  an4 
emboldened  Qen*  •  Carlton  to  send  tjt)|e  for|ce>« 
which  he  had  there  collected,  out  againat 
me.  I  had  previously,  chosen  my  ground* 
but  when  I  saw  the  number  of  the  cnen^j, 
us  they  sallied  out  of  the  town,  I  perceived  it 
would  be  a  day^  of  trouble,  i,f  not  ,9(.rf  buke ; 
but  I  had  no  chance  to  dee,  as  Montreal  was 
situated  on  an  island,  and  the  river  St.  Lau- 
rence cut  off  my  communication  to  Oen. 
Montgomery's  camp..  I  encouraged  my  sol- 
diery to  bravely  defend  themselves,  that  we 
should  soon  have  help,  and  that  we  should 
be  able  to  keep  the  ground,  Ji^'no  more.--<- 
This,  and  much  more,  I  affiy^mcd  with  the 


COL.  E.    AI^L^Hr  S  CAPTIVITY. 


w 


gveatett  necming  a«5Ui»ac«:»  and  wbtcfa  in 
«64>ty  )  though  to  be  in  vm^  40gF€«  pr<4>^ 

The  eitemy  qonmted  of  nottnore  thaiviprv- 
t^  regular  troopS}  together  with  a  mixed 
9jultitu4e»  chieflyC^nadiana,  yt'nly  ^  numr 
^  Oif  English  who  lived  in  the  town,  and 
some  Indians-;  in  a|l  t;o  the  number  of  nca^ 
fivehitnclred. 

The  reader  will  notice  that  most  of  my  par- 
ty were  Canadiansi;  indeed  it  was  a  motley 
pjircel  of  sddieiy  which  composed,  both  par- 
ties. However,  the  enemy  began  the  attack 
^m  wood-piles,  ditches,  buildiiigs,  and  such 
like  places,  at  a  considerable  dist^u^^e^  and  I 
returned  the  fire  from  a  situation  more  than 
equaUy  advantageous^  The  attack  began  be- 
tween, two  and  three  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
noon, just  before  which  I  ordered  a  volunteer, 
by  the  name  of  Richard  Youftg,  with  a  detach- 
ment of  men  as  a  flank  guard,  whiph,  under 
the  cover  of  the  bank  of  the  river,  could  not  on- 
ly annoy  the  enemy,  but  at  the  same  time, 
serve  as  a  flank  guard  to  the  lell  of  the  main 
body. 


4 

i 

1 


S  V 


u 


20 


A  NARRATIVE    OF 


h 


V'    ' 


I  1 


til  The  fire  continued  for  some  time  on  both 
sides  ;  and  I  h^s  confident  that  such  a  remote 
method  of  attack  could  not  carry  the  ground, 
provided  it  should  be  continued  till  night : 
But  near  half  the  body  of  the  enemy  begtm  to 
flank  round  to  my  right ;  upon  which  I  ordered 
a  volunteer,  by  the  name  of  John  Dugan,  who 
had  lived  many  years  mCknada,  and  under- 
stood the  French  language,  to  detach  about  fif- 
ty of  the  Canadians,  and  post  himfelf  at  ail  ad- 
vantageous ditch,  which  was  on  my  rigUt,  to 
prevent  tny  being  surrouhded  :  He  advanced 
with  the  detachment,  but,  instead  of  occupying 
the  post,  made  his  escape,  as  did  likewise  Mr. 
Young  ^pon  the  left,  with  their  detachments. 
1  soon  perceived  that  the  enemy  was  in  posscL- 
sion  of  the  ground,  which  Dugan  should  have 
occupied.  At  this  time  I  had  but  about  forty- 
five  men  with  me,*  some  of  whom  were  wound- 
ed t  the  enemy  kept  closing  round  me;  nor  was 
it  in  my  power  to  prevent  it ;  by  which  means, 
my  situation,  which  was  advantageous  in  the 
first  part  of  the  attack,  ceased  to  be  so  in  the 
last ;  and,  being  almost  entirely  surrounded 
with  such  vast  unequal  numbers,  I  ordered  u 


COL.   £< 


ALLEN'S  CAPTIVITY.  21 

retreat,  but  found  that  thoistebf  the  cilery  who 
were  of  the  country,  and  their  Indians,  could 
run  as  fast  as  my  men,  thoiigli  the  regulars 
could  not.  Thus  I  retreatfed  near  a  mile,  and 
some  of  the  enemy,  with  the  savages,  kept  fiank- 
ing  me,  and  others  crowded  hard  in  the  redrl 
In  fine,  I  ekpected,  in  a  very  short  time,  to  try 
the  world  of  spirits  :  for  I  was  apprehensive 
that  no  qiiarter  would  be  given  to  me,  and 
therefore  had  determined  to  sell  my  life  as  dear 
as  I  could.  One  of  the  enemy's  officers,  boldly 
pressing  in  the  rear,  discharged  his  fusee  at  me; 
the  ball  whistled  near  me,  as  did  many  others 
that  day.  I  returned  the  salute,  and  missed  him, 
as  runtiing  had  put  us  both  out  of  breath ;  fori 
conclude  ^ve  were  not  frightened ;  I  then  sa- 
luted him  with  my  tongue  in'  a  harsh  manner, 
and  told  him  that,  inasmuch  as  his  numbers 
were  so  far  superior  to  mine,  I  would  surretil 
der,  provided  I  could  be  treated  with  honor; 
and  be  assured  of  good  quarter  for  myself  and 
the  men  who  were  with  me  ;  and  he  answered 
I  should  ;  another  officer,  coming  up  directly 
after,  confirmed  the  treaty  ;  upon  which  I  a- 
greed  to  surreoder  with  my  party,  which  then 


S 


K 


22 


A     NARRATIVE  OF 


consisted  of  thirty-one  effective  men,  and  seven 
wounded.  I  ordered  them  to  groi^nd  their 
arms,  which  they  di^. 

The  officer  I  capitulated  with,  then  directed 
me  and  my  party  to  advance  towards  him,  which 
was  done ;  t  handed  him  my  sword,  and  in  half 
a  minute  after,  a  savage,  part  of  %vhose  head  was 
shaved,  being  almost  naked  and  painted,  with 
feathers  intermixed  with  the  hair  of  the  other 
side  of  his  head,  came  running  to  me  with  an  in- 
credible swiftness ;  he  seemed  to  advance  with 
ifiore  than  mortal  speed ;  as  he  approached  near 
me,  his  hellish  visage  was  beyond  all  descrip- 
tion  ;  snakes*  eyes  appear  innocent  in  compari- 
son  of  his  ;  his  features  distorted ;    malicci 
death,  murder,  and  the  wrath  of  devils  and  damn, 
ed  spirits  arc  the  emblems  bf  his  countenance ; 
and,  in  less  than  twelve  feet  of  me,  presented 
his  firelock  ;    at  the  instant  of  his  present,  J 
twitched  the  officer,  to  whom  I  gave  my  sword, 
between  me  and  the  savage ;  but  he  flew  round 
with  great  fury,  trying  to  single  me  out  to  shoot 
me  without  killing  the  off  cer ;  but  by  this  time  I 
was  near  as  nimble  as  he,  keeping,  the  officer 
in  such  a  positaon  that  hiis  danger  was  my  de- 


a 


COL.  s.  Allen's  captivity. 


23 


fence ;  but,  in  less  than  half  a  minute,  I  was  at- 
tacked by  just  such  another  imp  pf  hcH  :  Then 
I  made  the  officer  fly  round  with  incredible  re. 
loci^,  for  a  few  aeooiidsof  time^  when  1  per- 
ceived a  Canadian,  Who  hadloiit  one  eye,  as  ap. 
peared  afterwards,  taking  my  part  against  the 
savages ;  and  in  an  instant  an  Irishman  came 
to  my  assistance  with  f^  fixed  bayonet,  and 
drove  away  the  ^ends,  swearing  by  JasUshe 
would  kill  them.    This  tragic  .scene  composed 
my  xtund.    The  escaping  from,  so  awful  a  deatli, 
made  ev^n  imprisonment  happy ;  the  more  so 
as  my  conquerors  on  the  field  treated  me  with 
great  civility  and  politeness.         . 

The  regular  officers  said  that  they  were  very 
luppy  to  see  Col.  Allen :  I  answered  them,  that 
I  should  rather  chose  to  have  seen  diem  at  Gen* 
Montgomery's  camp.  The  gentlemen  replied, 
that  they  gave  full  credit  to  what  I  said, 
atid,  as  I  walked  to  the  town,  which  was,  a$ 
I  should  guess,  more  than  two  miles,  a  British 
officer  walking  at  my  right  hand,  and  one  of  the 
French  noblesse  at  my  left ;  the  latter  of  which, 
in  the  action,  had  his  eye-brow  carried  away 
by  a  glancing  shot,  but  was  nevertheless  very 


), 


r 


■     V. 


!       t 


34  A   NARRATIVE    QF 

merry  and  facetious,  an4  no  abuse  was  offered 
me  till.  I  came  to  the  barrack}  ard^  at  Mont- 
real, wjifre  J  met  general  Prescott,  who  asked 
m^.niy;  i>ame^).which  I  teidhim :  He  then  ask- 
ed me,  wheilier  I  was  that  CoL  Allen  Who  took 
Ticonderoga.     I  told  him  I  was  the  very  man  t 
Then  he  shook  his  cane  over  my  head,  calling 
many  hard  n&mes,  among  'which  he  frequently 
uied  the  word  rebel  j  ^d  put  himself  in  a  great 
rage.    I  told  him  he  would  do  well  hbt  to  cane 
me,  for  I  was  not  accustomed  to  it,  and  shook 
my  fist  at  him,  telling  him  thiat  was  the  be^stle 
of  mortality  for  him,  if  he  offered  to  strike  ; 
upon  which  Capt.  M'Cloud  of  the   British, 
pulled  him  by  the  skirt,  and  whispered  to  him, 
as  he  afterwards  told  me,  to  this  import :   that 
it  was  inconsistent  with  his  honor  to  strike  a 
prisoner.     He  then  ordered  a  sergeant's  com-  - 
mand  with  fixed  bayonets  to  come  forward,  and 
kill  thirteen  Canadians,  which  were  included 
in  the  treaty  aforesaid.  ^ 

It  cut  me  to  the  heart  to  see  the  Canadians 
in  so  hard  a  case,  in  consequence  of  their  hav-- 
ing  been  true  to  me ;  they  were  wringinjj  their- ' 
hands,  saying  their  prayers,  as  I  concluded, 


COL.  E.    ALLEN  SCAPTIVITV. 


25 


was  offered 


and  expected  immediate  death.  I  therefore 
stepped  between  the  executioners  and  the 
Canadians^  opened  my  clothes,  and  told  Gen. 
Prescott  to  thrust  his  bayonet  into  my  breast, 
for  I  was  the  sole  cause  oi  the  Canadians  tak- 
ing up  arms. 

The  guard  in  the  mean  time,  rolling  their 
eye-balls  from  the  General  to  me,  as  though 
impatiently  waitmg  his  dread  commands  to 
sheath  their  bayonets  in  my  heart ;  I  could 
however  plainly  discern,  that  he  was  in  a  sus^ 
pence  and  quandary  about  the  matter  :  This 
gave  me  additional  hopes  of  succeeding ;  for 
my  design  was  not  to  die,  but  to  save  the  Ca^ 
nadians  by  a  finesse.  The  general  stood  a 
minutCj-  when  he  made  me  the  following  reply : 
"  I  will  not  execute  you  now ;  but  you  shall 
grace  a  halter  at  Tyburn,  God  damn  you.'* 

I  remember  I  disdained  his  mentioning  such 
a  place ;  I  was,  notwithstanding,  a  little  pleas* 
ed  with  the  expression,  as  it  significantly  con- 
veyed to  me  the  idea  of  postponing  the  present 
appearance  of  death ;  besides  his  'sentence  was 
by  no  means  final,  as  to  "  gracing  a  halter,"  al- 
though I  had  anxiety  about  it  after  I  landed 
C 


./I 


26 


A   NLARRATIV£  Of 


in' England,  astheceader  will-find  in  the  course 
of  this  history.  Gen.  Prescott  then  ordered 
one  of  his  officers  to  take  me  on  board  the'Ofis. 
pee  schooner  of  war,  and  confine  mt^  hands 
and  feet,  in  irons,  which  was  done. the  same  af- 
ternoon I  \vas  taken. 

The  adtion  continued  an  hour  afid  three 
quartets^  by  the  watch,  and  I  know  not  to  this 
<layf  how  many  of  my  m€sn  were  J^ilkdy  though 
I  am  certain  there  were  but  few  !  if  I  remem* 
bee  right,  seven  were  wounded ;  one  of  tl^em» 
William  Stewart,  by  name^  was  wounded  by  a 
savage  with  a  tomahawk,  after  he  was  taken 
prisoner  and  disarmed,  but  >vas  rescued  by 
some  of  the  generous  enemy;  and  so  far  re- 
covered of  his  wounds,  that  he  afterwards  went 
with  the  other  prisoners  to  England.  i 

Of  the  enemy  were  killed,  a  Major  Garden, 
who  had  been  wounded  in  eleven  different  bat- 
tles, and  an  eminent  merchant,  Pattei'son,  of 
Montreal,  and  some  pthers,  but  I  never  knew 
their  whole  loss,  as  their  accoimts  were  idiffer- 
ent.  I  am  apprehensive  that  it  is  rare,  tliat  so 
much  ammunition  was  expeaided,  and  so  little 
execution  done  by  it ;  though  such  of  my  par- 


COL  E.  ALLEJJ'S  CAPTIVITY. 


27 


\     :'" 


ty  as  stood'  their  ground,  behaved  with  great 
foirtitud'*,  inuch  exceeding  that  of  the  enemy, 
butireii  not  the  best  ^marksmen,  and,  I  am 
apprehensive,  •  were  all  killed 'or  taken;  the 
wounded-were  all  put  into  the  hospital  at  Mont- 
r^l,  aM  those  that  were  not,  were  put  on  board 
of  diflferent  vessels  in  the  river,  and  shackled 
together  by  pah's,  viz.  two  men  fastened  to- 
gcthcf  by  one  liand-cuff,  being  closely  fixed  to 
onf  wrist  of  each  of  them,  and  treated  witll  the 
greatest  severity,  nay  as  cf iminalsi 

I  now  come  to  the-  description*  of  the*  irons j 
\vhich  were  pfut  oft  me :  The  hand- cuff  was  of 
a  common  size^  and  form,  but  my  leg  irons,  I 
should  imagine,  would  weigh  thirty  pounds ; 
th^  bar  was  eight  feet  long,  and  vefV  substan- 
tial ;  the  shackles  which  encompassed  my  an- 
cles, were  very  tight.  I  was  told  by  the  offi» 
cer  who  put  them  on,  that  it  was  the  king's 
platd,  and  I  heard  other  of  their  officers  say, 
that  it  -  would  weigh  forty  weight.  The  irons 
were  so  close  upon  my  ancles,  that  I  could  not 
lie  down  in  any  other  manner  than  on  my  back. 
iWas  put  into  the  lowest  and  most  wretched 
part  of  the  vessel,  where  I  got  the  favor  of  a 


>.'.  ; 


^:' 


;*s«»t&!'i:.*tV; 


l^j^^^'^}-^ 


m 


2S 


A  !9ARRATIV£  of 


chest  to  sit  on  ;  the  same  answered  for  my  bed 
at    night  ;    and  having   procured  some  lit- 
tle blocks  of  the  guai4,  who,  day  and  nigjit^ 
with  fixed  bayonets,  watched  over  ine,  to  lie 
under  each  end  of  the  large  bar  of  my  leg  irons,, 
to  preserve  my  ancles  from  galling,  while  I  sat 
on  the  chest,  or  lay  back  on  the  same,  though 
ipost  of  the  time,  night  and  day,  I  sat  on  it ; 
but  at  length,   having  a  desire  to  lie  down  on 
my  side,  which  the  closeness  of  the  irons  for- 
bid,  I  desired  the  captain  to  loosen  them^^for 
that  purpose  ;  but  was  denied  the  favor.     The 
Captain's  name  was  Royal,  who  did  not  seem, 
to  be  an  ill-natured  man  ;  but  oftentimes  said, 
that  his  express  orders  were  to  treat  me  with 
such  severity,  which  was  disagreeable  to  his 
own  feelings  ;  nor  did  he  ever  insult  me,  tho' 
many  others,  who  came  on  board,  did.     One  of 
the  officers,  by  the  name  of  Bradley,  was  very 
generous  to  me  ;  he  would  often  send  me  vic- 
tuals from  his  own  table  ;  nor  did  a  day  fail, 
but  that  he  sent  me  ia  good  drink  of  grog. 

The  reader  is  now  invited  back  to  the  time 
I  was  put  into  irons.  I  requested  the  privilege 
to  write  to  Gen.  Prescott,  which  was  granted. 


COL.  £.    ALLEN^S  CAPTIVITY. 


29 


I  remindedhim  of  the  kind  and  generofil$  manner 
of  my  treatment  of  the  prisoners  I  took  at  Ti- 
conderoga ;  the  injustice  and  ungentleman-like 
usage  which  I  had  met  with  from  him,  and  de- 
manded gentlemanlike  usage,  but  received  no 
answer  from  him.  I  soon  after  wrote  to  Gen. 
Carlton,  which  met  the  same  success.  In  the 
mean  while,  many  Of  those  who  were  permitted 
to  see  me,  were  very  insulting. 

I  was  confined  in  the  manner  I  have  related, 
on  board  the  Gaspee  schooner,  about  six 
weeks ;  during  which  time  I  was  obliged  to 
throw  out  plenty  of  extravagant  language, 
which  answered  certain  purposes  at  that  time, 
better  than  to  grace  a  history. 

To  give  an  instance,  upon  being  insulted,  in 
a  fit  of  anger  I  twisted  ofFa  nail  with  my  teeth, 
which  I  took  to  be  a  ten-penny  nail ;  it  went 
through  the  mortice  of  the  bar  of  my  hand- 
cuff,  and  at  the  same  time,  I  swaggered  over 
those  who  dbused  me  ;  particularly  a  doctor 
Dace,  who  tdd  me  that  I  was  outlawed  bv 
New- York,  and  deserved  death  for  several 
years  pa:.t ;  was  at  last  fully  ripened  for  the 
halter,  and  in  a  fair  way  to  obtain  it.     When  I 

C  2 


/, 


A 


\ '       i 


k  i 


<l  M 


\k 


«..-»■.  r  —  J 


36 


A  NARRATIVE" OF 


challenged  him,  he  excused  hirftself  in  conse- 
quence, as  he  said,  of  my  being>  a  criminal  j 
but  I  flung  such  a  flood  of  language  at  him 
that  it  shocked  him  and  the  spectator^,  for  my 
anger  \vas  very  great.  I  heard  oiie  say,  danvH 
him,  can  he  eat  iron  ?  After  that,  a  smail  pad* 
lock  wavfixed  to  the  hand-cuft',  instead  of  the 
nail  i  and  as  they  were  mean  spirited  in  their 
treatment  to  me,  so  it  appeared  to  me,  that  they 
M^ere  equally  timorous  and  cowardly. 

I  was  afterwards  sent  with  the  prisoners  ta* 
ken  with  me  to  an  armed  vessel- in  the  river, 
which  lay  off"  against  Quebec,  under  the  com. 
r^and  of  Capt.  M'Cloud,  of  the  British,  who 
treated  me  in  a  very  generous^  and  obliging 
mannner,  and  according  to  my  rank  $  in  about 
twenty-four  hours,  I  bid  him  farewell  with  re- 
gret ;  but  my  good  fortune  still  continued. — 
The  name  of  the  captain  of  the  vessel  I  was  put 
on  board,  was  Littlejohn  ;  who,  with  his  offi* 
cers,  behaved  in  a  polite,  generous  and  friend- 
ly manner.  I  lived  with  them  in  the  cabin, 
and  fared  on  the  best,  my  irons  being  taken  off, 
contrary  to  the  order  he  had  received  from  the 
commanding  officer;  but  Captain  Littlejohn 


COL.  E»  ALLE-N'S    CAPTIVITY. 


31 


swore,  that  a  brave  mah  should  not  be  uee^aft 
a  rascal,  on  board  his  shtj^i 
'  Thfis  I  found  myself  in  possession  of  ha^pi*" 
ness  oiice  iiiord,  and  thfe  evils,  I  had  lately  annf- 
fered,'  ^vcl  me  an  uncommon  relish  for  it.   . 

Gapt;  Littlejohn  used  to  go  to  Qudpec  aU 
iridst  every  day,  in  order  to  pay  his  respects  to 
certain  gehtletiien  and^ ladies ;  being-there  on^a 
certain  day;  he  happCrtM  to  irieet  with  somt 
disagreeable'  trcatm^nti -  as^ie  imagined;  fix)m  a 
Lieiit.  of-a  man  of  war,  ahd  one  word  brought 
on  another,  tiU  the  Lieut,  dialletiged  him  td^  a 
duel '  Ofi  the  plains  of  Abraham  i  Capt;  Little* 
John  ^vaS  a  gentleman,  who  entertained  a  high 
sense  of  honor,  anchcould  do  no  less  thaii  accept 
the  challenge^ 

At  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning  they  were 
to  fight.  The  Capt.  returned  in  the  evening, 
and  acquainted  his  lieutenant  and'  me  with 
the  afiair  :  His  Lieutenant  vvas?  a  high  blooded 
Sfcotchnian ;  -  as '  Well  as-  himself,  who  replied  to 
his  Gapt.  that  he  should  not  want  for  a  second. 
With  this  I  interrupted  him  and  ^ve  the  Gaqit; 
to  understand  that  since  an  opportunity  had 
presented^  I  would' be  glad  to  testify  my  grati' 


't 


•J 


32 


A    NARRATIVE  OF 


^1. 


tude  to  him,  by  acting  the  part  of  a  faithful 
second,  on  which  he  gave  me  his  hand,  and 
said  that  he  wanted  no  better  man.  Says  he,  I 
am  a  King's  officer,  and  you  a  prisoner  under 
my  care ;  you  must  therefore  go  with  me  to 
the  place  appointed  in  disguise,  and  added  hr- 
iher ,  "  You  must  engage  me,  upon  the  honor 
pf  a  gentleman,  that  whether  I  die  or  live,  or 
whatever  happens,  provided  you  live,  that  you 
will  return  to  my  Lieut,  on  board  this  ship." 
All  this  I  solemnly  engaged  him.  The  com- 
batants were  to  discharge  each  a  pocket  pistp], 
and  then  to  fall  on  with  their  iron-hilted  muckle 
whangers  ;  and  one  of  that  sort  was  allotted  for 
me ,  but  some  British  officers,  who  interposed 
early  in  the  morning,  settled  the  controversy 
without  fighting. 

Now  having  enjoyed  eight  or  nine  days^ 
happiness,  from  the  polite  and  generous 
treatment  of  Capt.  Littlejohn  and  his  offi- 
cers, I  was  obliged  to  bid  them  farewell, 
parting  with  them  in  as  friendly  a  manner  as 
we  had  lived  together,  which,  to  the  best  of 
my  mfcmory,  was  the  eleventh  of  November: 
Wher  a  detachment  of  Gen.  Arnold's  little 


m 


piOiHw^  *^-™'Yf.fl 


RW^g:: 


COL.  E.  ALLEN'S  CAPTIVITY. 


33 


army  appeared  on  point  Levi>    opposite 
Quebec,  who  had  performed   an  extraordU 
nary,  march  through  a  wilderness,  country, 
with  :design  to  have  surpized    tlie  capital  of 
Canada;  I  was  then  taken  on  board ;a  ve$sel 
called  the  Adamant,  together  with  the  pris- 
oners taken  with  me,  apd  put  under  the  pow  -; 
er  of  an  English  merchant  from  London^ 
whose  'name  was  Brook  Watson:  a  man  of 
malicious  and  cruel  disposition,  and   who 
was  probably  excited,  in  the  exercise  of  bis 
malevolence,  by  a  junto  of  tories,  who  sail- 
ed with   him  to  England ;    among    whom 
lycre  Col.   Guy  Johnson,  Col.  Closs,  and 
their  attendants  and  associates,  to  the  num^ 
ber  of  about  thirty. 

All  the  ship's  crew,  Col.  Closs,  in  his  per- 
sonal behavior  excepted,  behaved  towards 
the  prisoners  with  that  spirit  of  bitternes%^ 
which  is  the  peculiar  characteristic  of  tories, 
when  they  have  the  friends  of  America  in 
their  power,  measuring  their  loyalty  to  the 
English  king  by  the  barbarity,  fraud  and  de- 
ceit which  they  exercise  towards  the  whigs. 

A  small  place  in  the  vessel,  enqlosed  with 


M 


.-^  ;  V 


34 


.A  NARRATIVE    OF 


i  ^ 


if 


/ 


\rhite-oak  plank\  was  assigned  fur  the  p.^s- 
oners,  and  for  mb  amoiVg^thb  rbst.  I  should  ^ 
imagine  thatit  wias  not  more'  thian  twenty 
feet-  one  wa^y  arid  twenty -two  ^the  other  :  In^' 
t<y  this)  place  we  were  afU;  t6  the  iifumtier  df^ 
thtrtjr  four,  thrust  ahd  handf.euffed,  inti 
pri^6ner^  more 'b^iftg  added  16  cfulf- rifimber, 
jtnd^^fi^e  prdvided  with  two  ^x^rcntent  tiibs? 
lit!  tW^  t:itca4rtfer6Acii^'vi?(i^  we'ref'oWige^  i6  eb 
and^pef fotra  thd  dffi^ce's  of  evacuatidrti  dm* 
in'g  the  vdy a^fe  to  Kiigihand  ;  aitd '  \Vtere  §n  - 
strttfed  by  every  blaeki^a^i-cKsaildi*  aiid  lory 
on  bio^rd,  in  the  cruele'st  ihahh^ ; •  but?#hat 
iB'the  mdst  sdrprizing  is;  thit  nbtone  of  us 
die-d  in  the'-  pasiagd;  When  I  wa^  first  or- 
dered to  go  into  the  filthy  enc!osin*e,  through 
a"  small  sort  of  door,  I-positively  refused^  and 
endeavoured  t6  reasdii  the  before  named 
Brook  Watson  out  of  a  conduct  so  deroga- 
tdry  to  every  sentiment  of  honor  and  hu* 
manity,  but  all  tonopurpdse,  my  men  being 
forced  in  the  den  already;  and  the  rascal 
who  had  thedharge  ofthe  prisoner^  com- 
ihahdednie  to  go  immediately  in  among  the 
rest :   He  farther  added  that  the  place  was 


COL.    E.  ALLiEN'S  CAPTIVITY. 


^5 


good  enou^  Ion  id.  rebel;  that  4t  wssiknpltr'* 
fmentforii  capital ofibnijLer  ta tiU^  glhonor 
i>r  humanity  >;  that  any  tithing  short  of  a)hal. 
<tery  was  tQo,good;for  m^  *•  And  that  tliBt>would 
be  my,  portion  soon  . after ^I  arrived  :in  Eiig«- 
laiid;nfor  .whioh.pqrfKMe  only  .1  .was  sent 
thither.     About  the  same  time  vj Lieiit.^  a- 
mong  the  t^ies,  iASiiltedi:.me.in>a  grieviuis. 
iQaqerisayi^gl  ovight  to  jiave:  beea  eoceculed 
Sox  my  rebelHon  ag^iQ^t^iKeM''*  Y|Ofik>'.and;qfiit 
in  my  face ;  upon  wluch^tkoUgh/Lw^hand- 
civfied,  I  sprang  at  him  .with  both  hands, 
and  knocked  him  partly  dowji,^  but  he  scram-  . 
bled  >aIong  into  the  cabin,  and  I.afiter  him ; 
there  he  got  .vUnder  the  protection  of  some 
men  with  ifiixed  bayonets,  who  were  ordered 
to  make  ready  to  drive  roe  into  .the  place  a- 
fore  mentioned.     I  challenged  him  to  fight, 
notwithstanding  the;  impediments  that  were 
on. my  hands,  and  had  the  exalted  pleasure 
to  see  the  rascal  tremble  for  fear;  his  name 
I  have  forgot,,  but  Watson  ordered  his  guard 
to  get  me  into  the.jsiace  with,  the  other  pris- 
oners, d^ad  or  alive;    and  I  had  almost  as 
lieve  die  as  to  do.  it,  standing  it  out  till  they 


i 


36 


A  NARRATIVE    OF 


;.5. 


^.1  c 


environed  lAef^round  with  bayonets ;  and 
-brtitiab,  pejudked,  abandoned  wretches  tlief 
were,  1  from:  whom  I  could  espect  nothing 
Ibut  death  or  wounds  ;  However,  I  told  them 
t)iat  they  were  good  honest  fellows ;  that  I 
could  not  l>lame  them  ;  that  I  was  ^\y  in  a 
dispute  witii a  calico  merchant,  who  knew 
•not  how  to  behave  towards  a  gentlbman  of 
the  military  establishment.    This  was  ^>oke 
rather  to  appease  them  for  my  own  preser- 
vation^ as  well  as  to  treat  W^on  with:<cori- 
templ ; .  but  still  I  found  that  th^y  .were  de- 
termined to  force  me  into  the  wretched  cir- 
cumstances, which  their  prejudiced,  and  de- 
praved minds  had  prepared  for  me  :  There- 
fore, rather  than  die,>  I  submitted  to  their 
indignities,  being  drove  with  bayonets  into 
the  filthy  dungeon,  with  the  other  prisoners, 
where  we  were  denied  fresh  water,  except  a 
small  allowance,  which  was  very  inadequate 
to  our  wants;    and,  in  consequence  of  the. 
stench  of  the  place,  each  of  lis.  was  soon  fol- 
lowed with  a  diarrhoea  and  fever,  which  oc- 
casioned an  intolerable  thirst.     When  we 
asked  for  watery  we  were,  most  commonly, 


f 


^*  - . » - 


COL.  E.  all£n's  captivity.         37 

instead  of  obtaining  it,  insulted  and  derided  ; 
and,  to  add  to  all  the  horrors  of  the  place,  it 
was  so  dark  that  we  could  not  see  each  other, 
and  were  overspread  with  body  lice.  We  had, 
notwithstanding  these  severities,  full  allowance 
of  salt  provisions,  and  a  gill  of  rum  per  day  ; 
the  latter  of  which  was  of  the  utmost  service  to 
us,  and,  probably,  was  the  means  of  saving 
several  of  our  lives.  About  forty  days  we  ex- 
isted in  this  manner,  when  the  land^s  end  of 
England  was  discovered  from  the  mast  head  ; 
soon  after  which  the  prisoners  were  taken  from 
their  gloomy  abode,  being  permitted  to  see  the 
light  of  the  sun,  and  breathe  fresh  air,  which 
to  us  was  very  refreshing.  The  day  following 
we  landed  at  Falmouth. 

A  few  days  before  I  was  taken  prisoner.  I 
shifted  my  clothes,  by  which  I  happened  to  be 
taken  in  a  Canadian  dress,  viz.  a  short  fewn- 
skin  jacket,  double  breasted,  an  under- vest  and 
breeches  of  sagathy,  worsted  stockings,  a  de- 
cent pair  of  slioes,  two  plain  shirts,  and  a  red 
worsted  cap :  This  was  all  the  clothing  I  had, 
in  which  I  made  my  appearance  in  England. 

When  the  prisoners  were  landed,  multitudes 
D 


/ 


38 


A   NARRATIVE    OF 


n 


of  the  citizens  of  Falmouth,  excited  by  eurio- 
stty,  crowded  together  to  see  us,  which  was 
equally  gratifyitig  to  us.  I  saw  numbers  of 
l^eople  on  the  tops  of  houses,  and  the  rising 
adjacent  grounds  were  covered  with  them  of 
both  sexes:  The  throng  was  so  great,  that 
.the  king's  officers  were  obliged  to  draw  their 
swords,  and  force  a  passage  to  Pendennis 
castle,  which  was  near  a  mile  from  the  town^ 
where  we  were  closely  confined,  in  co08e>* 
quence  of  orders  from  gen.  Carlton,  who  ihim 
commanded  in  Canada. 

The  rascally  Brook  Watson  then  set  out  for 
London  in  great  haste,  expecting  the  reward 
of  his  zeal;  but  the  ministry  received  him>  a^ 
I  have  been  since  informed^  rather  qooUy ;  for 
the  mmority  in  parliament  took  advantage,  ar- 
guing that  the  opposition  of  America  to  Great 
Britain,  was  not  a  rebellion  :  If  it  is,  say  they, 
why  do  you  not  execute  col.  Allen,  according 
to  law?  but  the  majority  argued,  that  I  ought 
to  bq  executed,  and  that  the  oppositioti  was 
really  a  rebellion,  but  that  policy  obliged  them 
not  to  do  it,  inasmuch  as  the  Cqngress  liad 
then  most  prisoners  in  their  power ;  so  that  my 


J 


COL.    E.  ALLEN'S  CAPTIVITY. 


39 


being  sent  to  England,  for  the  purpose  of  be- 
ing executed,  and  necessity  restraining  them, 
was  rather  a  foil  on  their  laws  and  authority, 
and  they  cpnsequenty  disa[^roved  of  my  being 
sent  thither :  But  I  never  had  heard  the  least 
hint  of  those  debates,  in  parliament,  or  of  the 
working  of  their  policy,  till  some  time  after  I 
kft  England* 

Consequently  the  reader  will  readily  con- 
ceive I  was  anxious  about  my  preservation, 
knowing  thul  I  was  in  the  power  of  a  haughty 
and  cruel  nation,  considered  as  such.  There- 
fore, the  first  proposition  which  I  determined 
in  my  own  mind  was,  that  humanity  and  moral 
suasion  vfcould  not  be  consulted  in  the  deter- 
mining of  my  fate  \^ms^  those  that  daily  came 
in  great  numbers^  out  of  curiosity,  to  see  me, 
both  gentle  and  simple,  united  in  this,  that  J 
would  be  hanged.  A  gentleman  from  Ame- 
rica, by  the  name  of  Temple,  and  who  was 
friendly  to  me,  just  whispered  me  in  the  ear, 
and  told  me,  that  bets  were  hid  in  London, 
that  I  would  be  executed ;  he  likewise  priva- 
tely gavi  me  a  guinea,  but  durst  say  but  little 
t6m^. 


K>" 


h  i' 


■I 


40 


A  NARRATIVE    OP 


However,  agreeable  to  my  first  negative  pro- 
position, that  moral  virtue  would  not  influence 
my  destiny,  I  had  recourse  to  stratagem,  which 
I  was  in  hopes  would  move  in  the  circle  of 
their  policj%  I  requested  of  the  commander 
of  the  castle  the  privilege  of  writing  to  congress, 
who,  after  consulting  with  an  officer  that  lived 
in  town,  of  a  superior  rank,  permitted  me  to 
write.  I  wrote,  in  the  fore  part  of  the  letter,  a 
short  n?\rative  of  my  ill  treatment ;  but  withal 
let  them  know  that,  though  I  wa^treated  as  a 
criminal  iii  England,  and'  continued  in  irons, 
together  with  those  taken  with  me,  yet  it  was 
in  consequence  of  the  orders  which  the  com- 
mander of  the  castle  received  from  general 
Carlton ;  and  therefore  cMred  congress  to  de- 
sist from  matters  of  retalli^Qn,  till  they  should 
know  the  result  of  the  government  in  England, 
I'especting  their  treatment  towards  me,  and  the 
prisoners  with  me,  and  govern  themselves  ac- 
cordingly, with  a  particular  request,  that  if  re- 
taliation should  be  found  necessary,  it  might  be 
exercised  not  according  to  the  smalln^ss  of  my 
character  in  America,  but  in  proportion  to  the 
importance  of  the  cause  for  which  I  suffered* 


COL.  E.    ALLEN  S  CAPTIVITV. 


'4't 


This  is,  according  to  my  present  recollection, 
the  substance  of  the  letter,  inscribed,  7b  the 
illustrious  Continental  Con gres^.  This  letter 
was  wrote  with  a  view  that  it  should  be  sent  to 
the  ministry  at  London,  rather  than  to  con^ss, 
with  a  design  to  intimidate  the  haughty  Eng- 
lish government,  and  screen  my  neck  from  the 
liaker,  .  . 

The  next  day  the  officer,  from  whom  I  ob- 
tained licence  to  write,  came  to  see  me,  and 
frowned  on  me  on  account  of  the  impudi^nce 
of  the  letter,  as  he  phrased  it,  and  farther  add- 
ed, **  Do  you  think  that  we  are  fools  in  Eng- 
land, and  would  send  your  letter  to  congress, 
with  instructions  to  retaliate  on  bur  own  peo- 
ple? I  have  sent  your  letter  to  Lord  North." 
This  gave  me  inward  satisfaction,  though  I 
carefully  concealed  it  with  a  pretended  resent- 
ment, for  I  found  J  had  come  Yankee  over  him, 
and  that  the  letter  had  gone  to  the  identical 
person  I  designed  it  for.  Nor  do  I  know,  to 
this  day,  but  that  it  had  the  desired  effect, 
though  I  have  not  heard  any  thiiig  of  the  let- 
ter since. 

P  2 


h 


fi^ 


A  NARRATIVE  OF 


b-  I 


My  persond  treatment  by  lieut.  Hamilton^ 
whojopmmanded  the  castle,  was  very  geiterous. 
He  seat  me  every  day  a  fine  tn^eaki^st  and  dia- 
ner  from  his  own  table,  and  a  bottle  of  good 
wine.  Anotheir  aged  gendeman,  who^e  name 
I  cannot  recollect,  sent  me  a  good  supper: 
But  there  was  no  distinction  in  public  support 
between  me  and  the  privates ;  we  all  lodged 
on  a  sort  of  Dutch  bunks^  in  one  common  a- 
^rtment,  and  were  allowed  straw.  The  pri- 
vates were  w^U  supplied  wiUi  fresh  provisi^oni 
and  with  me,  took  effectual  measures  to  rid 
ourselves  of  lice.  . 

I  could  not  but  feel,  inwardly  extremely 
anxious  for  my  fate.  This  I  however  conceited 
from  the  prisoners,  as  well  as  from  the  enemy, 
who  were  perpetually  shaking  the  halter,  at  va^k 
I  nevertneless  trealed  them  with  scorn  and  con- 
tempt :  andliavi^g  sent  my  letter  to  tlie  minis- 
tr}%  could  concieve  of  nothing  more  in  my 
»power  but  to  keep  up  my  spirita^^Jbehave  ia 
a  daring,  soklieir-like  Htaiiner,  that  i  might  ^^o 
hibit  a  goojl  sample  of  American  fortitjude*-^ 
Such  a  conduct,  I  judged,  would  have  a  more 
probable  tendency  to  my  pr^ervation  than  con- 


»t.  Hamilton^ 
ery  generoiis. 
efest  and  dia. 
^tle  of  good 
^hoa^  name 
3od  supper : 
blic  support 
e  all  lodged 
'  common  a- 
The  pri- 

I  provis^n, 
iuresto  rid 

.  [  >  i 

extremely 
c  concefil^d 

the  enemy, 
liter,  at  m^k 

II  and  con- 
tlie  mini.5- 
re  in  my 
6ehave  ni 
might  ex. 
tiiwde,^ 
e  a  more 
fhwncon- 


COL  E.  AtLEN's  CAPTIVITY.  43 

cession  and  timidity.  This,  therefore,  was  my 
deportment ;  and  I  had  lastly  determined,  in 
my  own  mind,  that  if  a  cruel  death  must  in- 
eyitably  he  my  portion,  I  would  face  it  undaunt- 
ed; and,  though  I  greatly  rejoice  that  I  have 
returned  to  my  country  and  friends,  and  to  see 
the  power  and  pride  of  Great  Britain  humbled ; 
yet  I  am  confident  I  could  then  have  dic;d  with- 
out the  least  appearance  of  dismay. 

I  now  clearly  recollect  that  my  mind  was  so 
resolved,  that  I  would  not  have  trembled  or 
shewn  the  least  fear,  as  I  was  sensible  it  could 
not  alter  my  fate,  nor  do  more  than  reproach 
my  memory,  make  my  last  act  despicable  to 
my  enemies,  and  eclipse  the  other  actions  oi  my 
life.     Fori   reasoned  thus,  thut  nothing  was 
more  common  than  for  men  to  die  with  tixeir 
fnends   around  them,  weeping  and  lament- 
ing over  them,   but  not  able  to  help  them, 
which  was  in  reality  not  difi^ent  in  the  conse- 
quence of  it  from  such  a  dec^h  as  I  was  aji|?je- 
-hensiveof  f  and,  to  death  was  the  naturalleon- 
•aequenee  of  animal  life  to  which  the  Ijiws  |f 
natitrt^.  subjeQt   mankind,  to  be  timorous, and 
,uneasy  as  f^^  event  or  miamer  of  it,  was  in- 


1     7^ 


i      4 


}     1 


'id 


i 


44 


A     NARRATIVE  OF 


consistent  with  the  character  of  a  philosopher 
or  Soldier.  The  caiise  I  \Vis  engaged  in,  I  ev- 
er viewed  worthy  hazarding  my  life  for,  nor 
was  I,  in^  the  most  critical  moments  of  trouble, 
sorry  that  I  engaged  in  it ;  iind,  as  to  the  world 
of  spirits,  though  I  knew  nothing  of  the  mode  or 
manner  of  it,  I  expected  nevertheless,  when  I 
should  arrive  at  such  a  world,  that  I  should  be 
as  well  treated  as  other  gentlemen  of  my  merit. 
Among  the  great  numbers  of  people,  who 
came  to  the  castle  to  see  the  prisoners,  som^ 
gentlemen  told  me,  that  they  had  come  fifty 
miles  on  purpose  to  see  me,  and  desired  to  ask 
me  a  number  of  questions,  and  to  make  free 
with  me  in  conversation.  I  gave  for  answer, 
th^t  I  chose  freedom  in  ievery  sense  of  the  word : 
The  one  of  them  asked  me  what  my  occupation 
in  life'  had  been  ?  I  answered  him,  that  in  my 
younger  days  I  had  studied  divinity,  but  was 
a  conjurer  by  profession.  He  re];^ied,  that  I 
9ifil|pred  wrong  at  the  time  that  I  was  taken ; 
v|^cl  I  was  obliged  to  own,  that  I  mistook  a  fig- 
'%tt  at  that  time,  but  that  I  had  conjured  them 
out  of  Ticonderoga.  This  was  a  place  of  great 
ribtonety  in  England,  so  that  the  joke  seemed 
to  go  in  my  favor. 


COL.   E.  ALLEN'S    CAPTIVITT. 


45 


r  answer. 


It  was  a  common  thing  for  me  to  betaken 
out  of  close  confinement,  into  a  spacious 
green  in  the  castle,  or  rather  parade^  where 
numbers  of  gentlemen  and  ladies  were  ready 
to  see  and  hear  me.  I  often  entertained  such 
audiences  with  harrangues  on  the  impracti^- 
cability  of  Great  Britain's  conquering  the 
then  colonies  of  America.  At  one  of  these 
times,  I  asfeed  a  gentleman  for  a  bowl  of 
punch,  and  he  ordered  his  servant  to  bring 
it,  which  he  did,  and  offered  it  to  me,  but  I 
refused  to  take  it  from  the  hand  of  his  ser- 
vant, he  then  gave  it  to  me  with  his  own 
hand,  refusing  to  drink  with  me  in  conse'- 
quence  of  my  being  a  state  criminal  :  how- 
ever, I  took  the  punch  and  drank  it  all  dosvii 
at  one  draught,  and  iianded  the  gentleman 
the  bowl ;  this  made  the  spectators  as  Well 
as  tny  self  merry. 

I  expatiated  on  American  freedom  ;  this 
gained  the  resentment  of  a  young  beardless 
gentleman  of  the  comj)any,  who  gave  himself 
very  great  airs,  and  replied,  that  he  **  knew 
the  Americans  very  well,  and  was  certain 
that  they  could  not  bear  the  smell  of  powder. 


,v  ,    ^.,^ 


46 


^A  NARRATIVE  OF 


I  replied,  that  I  accepted  it  as  a  challenge, 
and  was  4ready  to  convince  him  on  the  spot, 
that  an  American  could  bear  the  smell  of 
powder  ;  at  which  he  answered  that  he  should 
Hot  piit  himself  on  a'  par  with  me.     I  then 
demanded  ^£  him  to  treat  the  character  of 
tJie  Americans  with  due  respect.    He  an- 
swered that  i  was  an  Irishman  ;  but  I  assu- 
i^d  him,  that  I  was  a  full  blooded  Yankee, 
and,  in  fine,  bantered  him  so  much,  t)  at, he 
left  tme  in  possession  of  the  ground,  i  id  the 
Jaugh  Went  against  him«     Two  cleigymen 
came  to  see  me,  and,  inat^much  as  they  be- 
haved with    ctvHity,   I  returned  them  the 
same ;    we  discoursed  gn  s&veral  parts  of 
moral  philosophy  ^nd  chc&stianity ;  and  they 
seemed  to  beisufrprise^,  that  I  should  be  ac- 
quainted with  suph  topics,  or  that  I  should 
understand  a  syllogism,  or  regular  modi  of 
argumentation.     I  am  apprehensive  my  Ca- 
.padian  dress  contributed  not  a  little; to.  the' 
surprise  and  excitement  of  curiosity  :  to  see 
a  gelntleman  in  England)  regularly  dressed 
and  Well  behaved,  would  be  no  sight  at  all ; 
but  «uch  a  rcbcl^  SB  they  we  W  pleased  to  call 


^ 


COL.  E.  Allen's  captivity.         47 

me,  it  lis  jjfbklaibte,  was  never  before  seen  iil 
England. 

The  prisoners  were  landed  at  Falmouth  a 
few  days  before  Christmas,  and  ordered  oii 
board  of  the  Solcbay  frigate,  Capt.  Symbnds, 
the  eighth  dajr  of  January,  1776,  when  our 
hand  irons  were  taken  off.  This  remove 
was  in  consequence,  as  I  have  been  since 
informed,  of  a  writ  of  habeas  eorpus^  whilch^ 
had  been  procured  by  some'  gentlemen,  in 
England,  ki  order  to  obtain  me  my  libcHy,,, 
•  The  Solebay,  with  sundry  other  men,  aft 
war,  andabout forty  transports,  rendezvous., 
ed  at  the  cove  of  Cork,  in  Ireland,  to  take  in 
provision  and  water. 

When  we  were  first  brought  on  'board,; 
Capt.  Symonds  ordered  all  the  prisoners,; 
and  most  of  the  hands  on  board,  to  go  on  the 
deck,  and  caused  to  be  read,  in  their  hearing 
a  certain  code  of  laws,  or  rules  for  the  regu- 
lation and  ordering  of  their  behavior  ;  and, 
then,  in  a  sovereign  manner,  ordered  the 
prisoners,  nae  in  particular,  off  the  deck,  and 
ne<v«r  to  come  on  it  again ;  for,  s^id  he,  thisv 
is  a  plac9  for  gf^iitlemen  to  wall^.     So  I  Vfcj^ 


48 


A     VARRATIVE    OF 


off,  an  officer  following  me,  who  told  me, 
that  he  would  shew  me  the  place  allotted  for 
me,  and  took  me  down  to  the  cable  tire,  say- 
ing to  me,  this  is  your  place. 

Prior  to  this,  I  had  taken  cold,  by  which  I 
was  in  an  ill  state  of  health,  and  did  not  say 
much  to  the  officer  ;  but  stayed  there  that 
night,  consulted  my  policy,  and  found  I  was 
in  an  evil  case  ;  that  a  Capt.  of  a  man  of  war 
was  more  arbitrary  than  a  king,  as  he  coukl 
view  his  territory  with  a  single  look  of  his 
eye,  and  a  movement  of  his  finger  command- 
ed obedience.     I  felt  myself  more  despond- 
ing than  I  had  done  any  tinie  before  ;  for  I 
concluded  it  to  be  a  governmental  schemes 
to  do  that  clandestinely  which  policy  forbid 
to  be  done  under  sanction  of  public  justice 
and  law. 

However,  two  days  after,  I  sihaved  and 
cleansed  myself  as  well  as  I  could,  and  went 
on  deck.  The  Capt.  spoke  to.  me  in  a  great 
rage,  and  said,  '*  did  I  not  order  you  not  to 
come  on  deck?"  I  answered  him,  that  at 
the  same  time  hie  said,  **  that  it  was  the 
place  for  gentlemen  to  walk,''  that  I  was 


COL.  E.  ALLEN'S    CAPTIVITY. 


49 


CoL  Alleiiy  bpt  had  not  been  properly  intro- 
duced to  kim* .'  He-  replied,.  *'  G».d  damn 
you,  sir,.becare|iil  notto  walkthe  same  side 
of  the  deck  that  I  do»'^  This  gave  me-ent! 
conrag^menttandever  after  that  1  walkeid  in 
th&raanner  he  had  directed,  exdeptlwhenhe, 
at  Certain  timeft  afterwards^  ordered  me  off 
in  a  passion,  and  I  then;  would  directly  after- 
wards ga  on  again,  tdUng  him^tb  command 
his  slavey;  that  I  was  a  gentleman,. and  had 
a  right  to  walk  the  deck  ;  yet,  when  he  ex* 
pressly  ordered  me  off,  I  obeyed,  not  out  of 
obedience  to  hitn,  but  to  set  an  example  to 
his  ship-s  cre^i  who  ought  to  obey  him. 

To  walk  to  the  windward  side  of  the  deck 
is,  according  to  custom^  the  prerogative  6£ 
the  captain  of  the  man  of  war,  though  he;  i 
oftentimes,  nay  commonl}*,  walks  with  his 
lientenaata,  when  no  strangers  are  by;  when 
a  capt.  froni  some  other  man  of  war,  comes 
on  board,  the  captains  w^k  to  the  windward 
side,  and  the  other  gentlemen  to  the  leward. 

It  was  but  a  few  nights  Ilodged  in  the  ca. 
ble  tire,  before  I  gained  an  acquaintance 
with  the  master  of  ajrms;  his  name  was  Gil- 


m 


:  / 


50  A  narrat;v£  of 

legan,  an  Irisman,  wbj  wias  a  gc^neroHs  and 
well  disposed  nian»  and,-  ina  firiendlj  man^ 
ner  made  me  an  offer  oi  livitif  with  htm  in  a 
little  birth,  which  was  allotted  him  between 
decks,  and  enclosed  with  canvas  ( his  prefer- 
ment on  board  was  about  equal  to  that  of  a 
sergeant  in  a  regiment.  I  wa9. comparative* 
}y  happy  in  the  acceptance  of  bis  clemen- 
cy, and  lived  witli  him  in  friendship,  till  the 
fHgate  anchored  in  the  harbor  of  cape  Fear, 
North*Carolina,  in  America.  :        « 

* 

.  Nothing  of  material  consequence  happen- 
ed till  the  fleet  rendezvoused  at  the  cove  of 
Corkf  except  a  violent  storm  which  brought 
old  liardy  sailors  to  their  prayers.    It  was 
soon  rumored  in  Cork  that  I: was  on  board 
theBolebay,  with  a  number  of  prisoners  from 
Atiierica;  upon  which  Messrs.  Clark  and 
Hays,  merchants  in  company ,  and  a  number 
of  other  benevolently  disposed  gentlemen, 
contributed  largely  tb  the  relief  and  support 
of  the  prisoners,  who  were    thirty-four  in 
number,  and  in  very  needy  circumstances. 
A  suit  bfvjplothes  from  head  to  foot,  includ- 
ing aivover^coat,  oraurtout,  and  two  shirts 


CQL.    K^ALLBN's  captivity. 


51 


were  bestowed  on  each  of  them.  My  suit  I 
received  in  superfine  broadclotha,  sufficient 
for  turo  jackets,  and  two  pair  of  breeches 
overplus  of  a  suit  throughout,  eight  fine 
Ht>lland  shirts  and  stocks  ready  made,  with 
a  nu  mber  of  pairs  bf  ijHk  and  worsted  hose, 
two  pair  bf  shoes,  two  beaver  hais,  one  <rf 
which  wd'^  sent  me  richly  laced  with  gold^ 
by  Mr.  James  Bonwell.  The  Irish  gentle* 
men  furthermore  made  a  large  gratuity  of 
wines  of  the  best  sort,  old  spirits,  Genevi^ 
loaf  artd  brown  sugar,  coffee,  tea  and  choco- 
late, with  a  large  round  of  pickled  beef,  and 
a  number  of  Ikt  turkies,  with  many  other  ar^ 
tides,  for  my  sea  stores,  too  tedious  to  men* 
tion  here.  To  the  privates  they  bestowed 
oil  each  nfan  two  pounds  of  tea,  and  six 
pounds  of  brown  sugar,  These  articles 
were  received  on  board,  at  a  time  when  the 
capt.  and  first  lieut.  were  gone  on  shore,  by 
permission  of  the  second  lieut.  a  handsome 
young  gentleman,  who  was  then  under 
twenty  jrears  of  age;  his  name  wHs  Doug- 
lass, the  son  of  Admiral  Douglass,  s£l  I  was 
informed. 


f 


« -JfJ 


K 


i^ 


DM 


if  ■ 


«! 


:/ 


J 


iU 


S2 


il;  lfA]tll;ATIVr£:Or 


Q 


I  ^As  this  muBificeAce  Was  SO  tinexpeel^d  and 
^entiful,  I  <  may  add  needful,  it  impressed'  on 
my  mind  the  highest  sense  of  gratitude  toward^ 
my  benefactors ;  for  I  was  not  only  supplied 
with  the  necessaries  and  conveniences  of  lifi^,. 
but  with  the  grandeurs  and  superfluities  of  it 
Mr.  Hays^  one  of  the  donators  before  mentionr 
ed;  came  on  board,*  and  behaved  in  the  most 
obligmg  manner,  telling  me,  that  he  hoped  my 
troubles  were  past;  for  that  the  gentlemen  of 
Cork  detennined  to  niake  my  sea- stores  equal 
to  those  of  the  capt.-  of  the  Solebay's ;  he  made 
anx)&r  of  live  stock  and  therewith  to  support 
them ;  but  I  knew  this  would  be  denied :  And 
to  crown  all,  did  send  to  me  by  another  person 
fifty  guineas,  but  I  could  not  reconcile  receiv- 
ing the  whole  to  my  own  feelings,  as  it  might 
have  the  appearance'  of  avarice ;  and  therefore 
received  but  seven  guineas  onlyj  and  am  con- 
fident, not  only  from  the  e^cercise  of  the  pre- 
sent well-timed  generosity,  but  from  a  large 
acquaintance  with  gentlemen  of  this  nation, 
that  as  a  people  they  excel  in  liberality  and  bra^ 
very. 


4 


COL.  fif.  AL4ENS  CAPTIVITY. 


-.555 


=im  con- 


^e/Ew%4ays  5i(t€irithe,reQeipt  of  the  aforesaid 
AojOal^Bomn  c^ptf  Syirionds  pame^  Qn  board,  full 
oCealvy  t<^aix}ft  due  prispn^ra^  ^nd  swQr^  by  aU 
dj^t  is  good)  4l9t  the  damne^iVmenqan  rebels 
^idd;  pot  be  feasted  ^t  t|)ijs  rate^  by  the  damit- 
$ld  r^b^ls  pf  ;  Jb'eland ;  he  therefore  tooli  a^yay 
all  tny  liquors  befori$-;in^|tioned,  excepi  soine 
of.this.wm^,  which  3WIS  secreted,, aiidi*lwo  gal- 
l^  |wa  of.  1  oW  spirits,  which  w^  reserved  for 
jnfi,  per  f^x)r  of  U^ut.  Qoug^^s.  ,  The  taking 
pf  iny  Jjiqwprs  was^  abpimin^ble  in.his  sight ;  he 
therefore  jpoke  in  m}^  behalf,  tiU  the  capt.  was 
angry;  .with  him ;  and, '  in  consequence,  pro- 
ceeded and  to6k  away  all.  the  tea  and  sugar, 
.Which  had, been  given  to  ihe  |>risoiiers,  and 
con^^^d.  it  to;  tl^e  use  of  the  slup's  crew. 
Our  clothing  was  iiot  taken  .away, 'but  the  pri- 
vates w^re  forced  to  da  duty  on  board;  Soon 
after,  this :  th^re '  came,  a  boot  to  the  side  of  the 
ship,  and  capita  3yn^ond;»'  asked  a  gditlemah 
who  was  in  it,; in^  my  hearing,  what  his  busi- 
ness was?  who  Answered  that  he  was  sent  to 
deliver  sbme  sea-stores  to  col.  Allen,  which,  if 
I  remember  right,  he  said  were  sent  from  Dub- 
lin; but  the  capt.  damned  him  very  heartily, 

E2 


;•>*•: 


54 


A  KARRATIV£    OF 


I 


:  I 


i 


m 


^"^ 


ordered  hiiiKaway  from  the  ship^  and  would  not 
suffer  him  to  deliver  the  stores.     I  was  futher^ 
more  informed,  that  the  gentlemen  in  Cprk  re^ 
quested  of  capt.  Symonds,  that  I  might  be  d- 
lowed  to  come  into  the  city,  and  thjrt  they 
would  be  responsible  I  should  return  to  the 
frigate  at  a  given  time,  which  was  denied  them* 
We  sailed  from  England  the  8th  day  of  Jan^ 
uary.  and  from  the  cove  of  Cork  the  I2th  day,, 
of  February.  «  Just  before  we  sailed,  the  priw 
soners  withme  were  divided,  and  put  on  board 
threes  different  shpis  of  w^r.    This  gave  me 
some. uneasiness,  ioc  they  were  to  a  man  zea* 
^ous  in  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  behaved  with  a 
becoming  fortitude  in  iie  various  scenes  of 
their  captivity ;  but  those,  who  were  distribu- 
ted on  board  pther  ships  of  war,  were  much 
better  used  than  those  who  tarried  withirie,  ai 
appeared  afterwards.     When  the  fleet,  consist*^,, 
ing  of  about  forty*five  sail,  including  five  men 
of  war,  sailed  from  the  cove  with  a  fresh  breeze, 
the  appearance  was  beautiful,  abstracted  from 
the  unjust  and  bloody  designs  tliey  had  in  view. 
We  had  not  sailed  many  days,  before  a  migh- 
ty storm  arose,  which  lasted  near  twenty -four 


■■^4. 


•^^ 


COL.  £^  ALLEN*S  CAPTIVITY.  SS 

hours  without  intermission :  The  wind  blew 
with  relentless  fury,  and  no  man  could  remain 
on  deck,  except  he  was  lashed  fast,  for  the 
^vaves  rolled  over  the  deck  by  turns,  with  a 
forcible  rapidity  and  every  soul  on  board  wag 
anxious  for,  the  preservation  of  the  ship,  alias 
their  lives.  In  this  storm  the  Thunder-bomb 
maii  of  war  sprang  a  leak,  and  was  afterwards 
iioaled  to  some  part  of  the  coast  of  England; 
and  the  crew  saved.  We  were  then  said  to  be 
in  the  l>ay  of  Biscay.  After  the  storm  abated, 
I  could  plair^i  'i^ctm  that  the  prisoners  were 
better  used  fc  "    r^at  considerable  time. 

Nothing  of  consequence  happened  after  this^ 
t;ll  we  had  sailed  to  the  island  of  Madeira,  ex- 
cept a  certain  favor  which  I  received  of  capt. 
Symonds,  in  consequence  of  an  application  I 
made  to  him,  for  the  privilege  of  his  tailor  to 
make  me  a  suit  of  clothes  of  the  cloth  bestowed 
on  me  in  Ireland,  which  he  generously  grant- 
ed. I  could  then  walk  the  deck  with  a  seem- 
ing better  grace.  When  we  had  reached  Ma- 
deira, and  anchored,  sundry  gentlemen  with 
the  capt.  Went  on  shore.  Who  I  conclude,  gave 
the  rumor  that  I  was  in  the  fiigate ;  upon  which 


'  I 


I      1/ 


§  » 


S6 


,7TrAf»*^J»A''^«ir*\^I.v  -.u>:> 


I 


i 


«W«>i!lfe  poller  ^lia^ki^i^^     ll^gf^- 

^im  to  fervid  m^,  n^Kt^thstapi^g  ibp  c!Q)^iiq9»- 
;lao«i  he  n^t  witlji'faidppfe  :  ^J(4jfecte4|he.S|^^ 

ty  in  neeid  pf :  ^  s^jgnal  .a  Ciha^itj^i  ai4/<3c^(»»^ 
ibff,  yomng  genttenwai  | 9,  m^k<5  thCv  uUifi9f|t  ^is- 
IHUtoh^  -  whiic4^ ;  Jbe  did[ ;  J^iut,  in  the  mew  tii|i<:^ 

oapu  Symonds  ai^d  fa^  Pffi<^9)!^  <^^*^  ^^^^9^^ 
»ncl  tmmedktely  made  T^ady;  forsailuigif  Uie 
^d^t  tihe  a#me  time  being  fair,  set^  wh^n 
the  yout^  gaitleman  was  i^  fyk  sight  witjKtbe 
afojfew^  st«|re.  .  ..,•.,.;  .;.•  -.  ^:,,-_  ■  ,^.  ,4 1^,_^, 
„jTbe,  reader  wiU  doubd^sa  re(K^lc;ct  the  sey» 
en  gtupeas  l-  rec^iyed  fit  the  <iQife  of*  ppr|fr? 
These  enabled  me  to  piiM#|a9e  9f  tllf  pui^r 
w^  I  wanted^  h^  not  die  ^capta^  strictly  fof** 

;)biddcn  it,  thoii^.,r|ii^  fi^^l^ 


1 


1 '       '     IB^ 


COL.  It  AMl»X^#<IA3>tXVITY.  #7 


irhni  i;i«88  «ick,  ^' w  ft  liis  jie^uMr 


€4^(?ili(  |n  diead;  and  kide«d  0ttt(«f|i|i;)he;^ta^ 
g^geHbfiiiio&t  of  the^a)!%'^  G 
tat^, notcmlywith tlife i^taiii,  but wil^ o£h^ 
efgeaiienf^n  onboard,  on  the  ^inreiulotiid^eiieai^ 
of  suchl^sajge ;  ififerrkig  that^  uiasmuch  «%  Ihe 
government  in  England  did  not:  proceed  ag^iiaflfc 
iheasaca|)italoftnder,tbey  shouldnot;  for tbot 
thejr  were  by  no  means  empowered  by  any  au- 
th<xrttjr,  either  eivU  or  military,  to  do  so;  fbir 
the  English  government  had  acquitted  me, >bjr 
sending  me  back  a  prisoner  of  war  to  Americsj, 
and  that  they  should  treat  ime  as  such.  I  far. 
djier  drew  an  inference  Of  impolicy  on  them, 
provided  they  should,  by  haid  usage,  destroy 
rtiy  life  $  inasmuch  as  I  might,  if  Jiving,  re- 
deem one  of  their  officers  ;  but  the  cajptain  re- 
plied, iiat  he  needed  no  directions  of  muie  how 
t6  treat  a  rebel ;  that  the  Briti^ih  would  con- 
quer the  American  rebels,  hang  the  congress, 
mtdsuch  as  promoted  the  rebellion,  me  in  par- 
ticular, and  retake  their  own  prisoners ;  so  that 


s- 


I 


7 
f 


1/ 


SB 


•   *   ■-"   'i 


•S^^A  HARRATrVE  OF 


I 


my  Ufdjma  c^no  cdnsequenoe  in  the  sdtile  of 
ikftk  policj.  r  gave  him  for  ansmrer,  that  if 
they  stayed  till  they  conquered  Atneirica,  befor^ 
they  hanged  me^  IghoulddteofoMage^  and  de- 
sired •that*  till  suth  an  event  took  f>lace,  he 
wonid  at  least  allow  me  to  purchase  of  the  pur- 
ser, teFitiy  own  irioney,  inch  articles  as  1 
grditty  needed  ;  but  he  would  not  permit  it, 
arid  when  I  reminded  him  of  the  generous  aiid 
^ivil  usag^  their  pirisbtlers  in  captivity  in  Amer- 
ica Aet  witbV^^ 'said  that  it  \vas  hot  owing  to 
their  goodness,  but  to  their  timidity  ;  for,  .said 
he,  they  expect  to  be  conquered,  and  therefore 
dare  not  misuse  our  prisoners ;  and,  in  fact, 
tliis  was  the  language  of  the  British  blficers,  till 
Gen.  Kurguone  was  taken ;  happy  event !  and 
not  only  of  the  officers,  but  of  the  wti6le  Brit- 
ish army.  I  appeal  to  all  mjr  brother  prison- 
ers, who  have  been  with  the  British  m  the 
southern  departmeni^,"  for  a  confirmation  df 
what  I  have  advanced  on  this  subject.  The 
surgeon  of  the  Solebay,  whose  name  is  North, 
was  a  very  humane  obliging  man,  and  took  the 
best  care  of  ♦he  prisoners  who  were  sick. 


1 


r'i 


i 


'V 


adiit  of 
that  if 
jbefctt'^ 
andde- 
Eice,  he 
the  pur- 
fs  as  1 
jrmit  it, 
ous  aiid 
Amer- 
wing  to 
of, .said 
lerefore 
in  fact, 
cers,  tin 
r\t !  and 
)le  Brit- 
prison^ 
I  m  the 
ition  df 
t.    The 
\  North, 
ook  the 
I.     ^  ' 


COL  £.  ALLEN'a  CAPTIVITY.  $$ 

The  third  day  of  May  we  cast  anchor  in  the 
harbor  of  C^pe  Fe«r,inNorth  Carolina,  as  did 
sirP^r  Parker's  ship,  of  fifty  guns,  a  little 
back  of  the  bar;  for  there  was  no  depdiofwft^ 
ter  for  him  to  come  into  the  harbor  :  These 
two  men  of  war,  and  fourteen  as*-'  of  transports 
and  others,  came  after,  so  t-.  t  m  of  the  fleet 
rendezvoused  at  cape  Fear,  for  three  weeks. 
The  soldiers  on  board  the  transports  were  sick- 
ly, in  consequence  of  so  long  a  passage  ;  add 
to  this,  the  small  pox  carried  off  many  of  them : 
They  landed  on  the  main,  and  formed  a  camp ; 
but  the  riflemen  annoyed  them,  and  caused 
them  to  move  to  an  island  in  the  harbor ;  but 
such  cursing  of  riflemen  I  never  heard. 

A  detachment  of  regulars  was  sent  up 
Briinswick  river  i  as  they  landed,  they  were 
fired  on  by  those  marksmen,  and  they  came 
back  next  day  damning  the  rebels  for  their  un. 
manly  way  of  fighting,  and  swearing  that  they 
would  give  no  quarter,  for  tliey  took  sight  at 
them,  and  were  behind  timber,  skulking  about, 
One  of  the  detachments  said  they  lost  one  man ; 
but  a  negro  man  who  was  with  them,  and  heard 
what  was  said,  soon  after  told  me  that  he  help- 


i 


ep 


Al  mA^RMTlVM^  OW 


Juiir$^- 


iwnilltid: at  tiMil  tiBie iT  audi AiK'  afl to-^iiik 
ito^  wm  feillijkhottaiaid  tiiafi^  ,thou|^i  not  two* 
tUrda  tif  thmni  fit  £jr  4ult^i)  <  Ij^heard  ntimbm 
of  tbem  say^  ^t  ih«  trees  ki  Ameiica  ^loukjb 
!i^  wdl  widitifeuit  that  o^  they 

would  ^e.  no  ipiarter  :  This  was  in:  t^ie 
imnlths  of  nuMst  who  I  heard  speak  on  the  $ub^ 
|ect,  officer  OS;  iirellasjSOldier^  IiVishedlitll!^ 
time  my  wu»trymefe;knewj  as  weU  «s  J  M^ 
whata  xEiurderinfif  and  c^niel  eneoiy  theyjbad 
to  deal  wiith;  ntHit.eKjperience  has  since  tai^ht 
this  cottntiy,.  what!  th^y  are  to  expect  at  the 
hands  ofBritDnawheaim  their  po^yer. 

The  piisoneirs^  who  had  been  sent  oa  bosurd^ 
different  men  of  war  at;  the  cave  of  Cork,  weie 
coUectedtogether^  and  the  whole  of  them  put 
on  board  the  Mercury  frigate,  capt,  James 
Montague,  except  one  df  the  CanadiansK  who 
died  on  the  paasage  ifrom  Ireland,  and  Peter 
Noble,  who^made  bis  escape  from  the  Sj^y^ix' 
man  of  warin  Ifaislurbor^and,  by  esttaordina. 


\ 


.._^.  r' 


COL.  E%    ALLIN*8  CAPTIVITY. 


61 


eniigiii 

norttava 
mmbm 
ashoiildi 
for  they 
Km  tjic 

s  I  (^ 
%BX  the 


ry  si^imiWi  got  aftfe  home  to  New-England^ 
aad  gave  intelligeiice  of  the  usage  of  his  bro- 
ther prisoners,  'f  he  Mercury  set  sail  from 
this  port  for  Halifax,  about  the  20th  of  May, 
and  Sir  Peter  Parker  was  about  to  sail  with  the 
Ii^d  forces,  under  the  command  of  gen.  Clin- 
ton, for  the  reduction  of  Charleston,  the  capi- 
tal of  South-Carolina,  and  when  I  heard  of 
his  defeat  in  Halifax,  it  gave  me  inexpressible 
satisfaction. 

I  DOW  found  myself  under  a  worse  capt.  than 
Symohds  j  for  Montague  was  loaded  with  re- , 
ju^ices  against  every  body,  and  every  thing; 
that  tli^hi  not  Stamjk:^  with  royalty;  and/  be- 
ingby  nature  uhd^rwitted,  his  wrath  wias  hea- 
vier than  the  others,  or  at  least  his  mind  was 
in  no  instance  liable  to  be  diverged  by  good 
sense,  humof  or  bravery,  of  which  Symonds 
was  by  turns  susceptible.  A  capt.  Francis 
Proctor  was  added  to  our  number  of  prisJoners 
.when  we  were  first  put  on  board  this  ship : 
This  gentleman  had  formerly  belonged  to  the 
Etiglish  service.  The  capt.  and,  in  fine,  all 
the  gentlemen  of  the  ship,  were  very  much  in- 
censed against  him,  and  put  him  in  iroils  with- 

F 


\. 


G2 


A   NARRATIAE  Ot 


f 


L' 

ii 


out  the  least  provocation,  and  he  was  continu- 
ed  in  this  miserable  situation  >b6utthrjee 
months.  In  this  passage  tKe  prisoners  Were 
infected  with  the  scurvy,  some  more  and  some, 
le&s,  but  most  of  them  severely.  The  shijp's 
crew  was  to  a  great  degree  troubled  with  it, 
and  I  concluded  that  it  was  catching :  Several 
of  the  crew  died  with  it  on  their  passage,  1 
was  weak  and  feeble  in  consequence  of  so  long 
and  cruel  a  captivity,  yet  had  but  little  of  tlie 
scurvy. 

The  purser  was  again  expressly  forbid  by 
the  capt.  to  let  me  have  any  thing  out  of  lus 
store ;  upon  which  I  went  on  degjc,  and,  ii>  the 
handsomest  manner  requested  the  favor  of  pur- 
chasing  a  few  necessaries  of  the  purser,  wpjcn 
was  denied  me;  he  further  told  me,  that  I 
should  be  hanged  as  soon  as  I  arrived  at  Hali- 
fax. I  tried  to  reason  the  matter  with  him,  but 
*ound  him  proof  against  reason  ;  I  also  held 
up  his  honor  to  view,  and  his  behavior  to  me 
and  the  prisoners  in  general,  as  being  deroga^ 
tory  to  it,  but  found  his  honor  impenetrable.  I 
then  endeavored  to  touch  his  humanity,  but 
found  he  had  none ;  for  his  prepossession  of 


;■  ^.. 


COL.  E.  ALLEN'>S  captivity. 


63 


bij^try  to  his  own  party,  had  confirined  him 
ip.  ad  opinion,  that  no  humanity  wasc*.ue  to  ui^- 
roYalists,  but  seemed  to  think  that  heaven  and 
earth  were  made  merely  to  gratify  tlie  king  and 

"'hi&creatuffes;'  he  uttered  considerable  unintel. 

♦*'.,      '•■        -,,'  ^ 

"(igiijle/Vnd  grovelling  ideas,  a  litde  tinctured 

.vvitli  Monarchy,  but  stood  well  to  his  text  of 

,  Hanging  irie.     He  afterwards  forbade  his  sur- 

geoi^  to.  administer  any  help  to  the  sick  priso- 

iiei^.     I  was  every  night  shut  down  in  the  cable 

4ire,*  ivith  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  and  we  tM 

'lived  miserably  while  und<*r  his  power :     But  I 

receivi^d  some  generosity  from  several  of  the 

midsliipmeh^  who  i:i  a  dej^ree  atlevlated  my 

^Irti^^rv;  cine  tSP^heif  liames- was  Putrass,  the 

Aanies  of  the  Others  t  do  iiot  recoUett:  t)ut 

'  they  Si'bre  obliged  to  Be  private  in  the  bestow- 

inent  of  their  favoi*,    which  was  sometiines 

good  wine  bitters,  and  at  others,  a  generous 

drintbfgrog.    ;'    ''  ''/^ 

'     Some  time  iii  thelfirdt  week  of  Juiie,  we  came 

tloanclibrat  the  Hook  off  New- York,  where 

¥e  i^mained  but  three  days ;  in  which  time 

■"^dvlTi'yon,  Mr;  Kemp;  the  old  attorney  gen. 

of  Kew-York,  and  several  other  perfidious  and 


A 


64 


A  NARRATIVE  OF 


r- '  -■ 


I- 


.( 


oy^r-grovirn  tories  and  land-jobbers,  came  on 
board.  Try  on  viewed  .ae  with  a  stern  coun- 
tenance, as  I  was  walking  on  the  leeward  side 
of  the  deck,  with  the  midshipmen  ;  and  he 
and  his  companions  were  walking  with  the 
capt.  and  lieut.  on  the  windward  side  of  the 
same,  but  never  spoke  to  me,  though  it  i^i  al- 
together probable  that  he  thought  of  the  old 
quarrel  between  him,  the  old  government  of 
of  New- York  and  the  Green  Mountain  fioys: 
Then  they  went  with  the  capt.  into  the  cabin, 
and  the  same  afternoon  returned  on  board  a 
vessel  which  lay  near  the  Hook,  where  at 
that  time  they  took  sanctuary  from  the  re« 
sentment  oC  their  injured  fl^jptry.  What 
passed  between  the,  officors^fhe  ship  ai^l 
these  visitors  I  know  npt ;  but  this  I  ki)ovif, 
tj^lkt  my  treatment  frqig^^e  principal  officer^s 
was  more  severe  afteipwards. 

We  arrived  at  Halifax  not  far  from  the 
i|[li4dle  of  IHne,  where  the  ship's  crew, 
which  w^/ infested  with  the  scurvy,  ^yejce 
taken  on  shore,  and  shallow  trencher  dug, 
ii^ta  which  they  were  put,  and  partly ,  coy^r- 
Mmyii^§P^5r  Indeed  Werjr  jprpp^|,»s8.. 


I 


COL.    E.ALLEN'S  CAPTIVITY. 


65 


sore  was  taken  for  their  relief :  The  priso- 
ners were  not  permitted  any  sort  of  medi. 
cine,  but  were  put  on  board  a  sloop  which 
lay  in  the  harbor,  near  the  town  of  Halifax, 
surrounded  with  several  men  of  war  and 
their  tenders,  and  a  guard  constantly  set 
over  them}  night  and  day.  The  sloop  we 
had  wholly  to  ourselves,  except  the  guard, 
who  occupied  the  forecastle  ;  here  we  were 
cruelly  pitched  with  hunger ;  it  seemed  to 
me  that  we  had  not  more  than  one  third  of 
the  common  allowance  :  We  were  all  seiz- 
ed with  violent  hunger  and  faintness ;  we 
divided  our  scanty  allowance  as  exact  as 
possible.  I  shared  the  same  fate  with  th 
rest,  and,  though  they  offered  me  more  than 
an  even  share,  I  refused  to  accept  it,  as  it 
was  a  time  of  substantial  distress,  which  in 
fay  opinion  I  ought  to  partake'  equally  wi;h 
the  rest,  and  set  an  example  of  virtue  and 
fortitude  to  our  little  commonwealth. 
•  I  sent  letter  after  letter  to  capt.  Mdbt?;gae, 
who  still  had  the  care  oflus,  and  also  to  his 
lieutenant,  whose  nftme  I  cannot  call  to  mind> 
biitcould  obUi^n  no  miswer,^much  less  l^re- 

F  3 


ty 


m 


A   NARRAtlVB    OT 


^ij 


dress  of  grevancetr;  and,  fd  adcf  tb  t^he  e^ar- 
mity,  iieaii  a  doaeii^of  tlife'  priBoners  wcfe 
dangerously  ill  of  the  scurvy.  I  wrote  pri- 
vate letters  to  the  itoctorsi  tdprociifci  if -pos- 
sible) some  remedy  for  the  siok,  but  in  vain. 
The  chief  physician  came  by  in  a  boat,  so 
close  that  the  oars  touched  the  sloop  we  were 
in,  and  I  uttered  my  complaint  Mi  the  gen^ 
teelest  manner  to  him,  but  he  never  66 
much  as  turned  ,hii  head,  ormide  me  any 
answer,  though  I.  continued  speaking  till  he 
got  out  of  hearing.  Our  cause  then  bedan^e 
very  deplorable*  Stit)  I  kept  writing  to  the 
captain,  till  he  ordered  the  guard »\  as  thef 
told  me,  not  to  bring  any  more  letters  from 
me  to  him.  In  the  mean  time  an  event  hApi 
pened  worth  relating:  Oae  of  the  metit  sK 
most  dead  of  the  scurvy,  Ity  by  the  side  o£ 
the  sloop,  and,  a  canoe  of  Indians  Cbmingby^ 
he  purchased  tiyo  quarts  of  strawberries', 
and  at€  them  at  once,  and  it  almost  cui^d 
him.  The  money:  he  gave  for  them ,  was  all 
the  money  lie  had  in  the  world.  After  ^that 
we  tried  every  way  to  procure  more  of  that 
fm  It,    reatonnig;  from  analog^  that  ihtff 


tl 


n 


ft 

tc 


COL.  E.  Allen's  captivity. 


67 


might  have  ths  same  effect  on  otbers  infesU 
ed  with  the  same  disease,  but  could  obtaif^ 

Meanvvhile  the  doctor^s  mate  of  tlie  Mer- 
cury  came  privately  on  board  the  prison 
Bloop,  and  presented  me  with  a  large  vial  of 
Hmart  drops,  which  proved  to  be  good  for 
the  scurvy,  though  vegetables  and  some  o^ 
ther  ingredients  were  requisite  for  a  cure  ; 
bdt  the  drops  gave  at  least  a  check  to  the 'dis- 
ease :  This  was  a  well-timed  exertion  of  hu- 
manity, but  the  doctors  name  has  slipped  my 
iMind,  and,  in  my  opinion,  it  was  the  means 
of  saving  the  lives  of  several  men. 
'   The  guard,  which  was  set  over  us,  \^S 
by  this  time  touched  with  the  feelings  of 
compassion;    and  I  finally  trusted  one  of 
them  with  a  letter  of  Complaint  to  governor 
Arbnthnot,    of  Halifax,    which  he  found 
mean's  to  communicate,  and  which  had  the 
d(  sired  effect ;  for  the  governor  sent  an  of- 
ficer and  surgeon  on  board  the  prison  sloop, 
to  know  the  truth  of  the  complaint.     The 
officer's  name  was  Russel,  who  held  the  rank 
of  lieut.  and  treated  itie  in  a  friendly  and  polite 


i 


ii 


68 


U     NARRATIVE    OF 


H^nher,  and' ^vas  really  angry  at  the  cruel  atid 
unmanty  us^;e  the  prisoners  met  with ;  and, 
with  the  surgeon,  made  a  true  report  of  mat- 
toGbv.  Arbuthnot,  who,  either  by  his  order  Or 
influence,  took  us  the  next  day  from  the  prisott 
sloop  to  H^ifax  goal,  where  I  first  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  now  Hon;  James  Lovel,  Esq. 
one  of  the  members  of  Congress  for  the  state  of 
Massachusetts- Bay b  The  sick  were  taken  to 
the  hospital,  and  the  Canadians,  who  were  ef- 
fective, were  employed  in  the  King's  works  . 
and  when  their  countrymen  were  recovered 
from  the  scurvy  and  joined  them,  they  all  d^- 
serted  the  king's  employ,  and  were  not  heard  of 
at  Halifax,  as  long  as  the  remainder  of  the  pri- 
soners continued  there,  which  was  tiU  i^ear  the 
middle  of  October.  )  We  were  on  board  the 
prison  sloop  about  six  weeks,  and  were  landed 
at  Halifax  neai'  the  middle  of  i^ugust.  Seve- 
ral, of  our  English  American  prisoners,  who 
were  cured  of  the  scurvy  at  the  hospital,  made 
their  escape  from  tlience,  and  after  a  long  time 

readied  their  old  habitations. 

I  had  now  but  tliirteen  with  me,  of  those  wI|o 

were  taken  in  Canada,  sx\d  remained  in  goal 


uel  add 
ti ;  and> 
of  mat- 
order  6r 
;  prison 
ame  ac- 
el,  Esq. 
state  of 
ken  to 
^ere  ef- 

works . 
» 

covered 

T  all  de^ 

leard  of 

the  pri- 

^ear  the 

•ard  the 

landed 

Seve- 

whp 

,  made 

g  time 

sewHo 
n  goal 


COL  E.  Allen's  captivity,         09 

with  nie  ia  Halifax,  who,  in  addition  to  thpse 
that  were  imprisoned;  before,  made  our  number 
about  thirty  four,  who  were  all  locked  up  in 
one  common  large  ;'oom,  without  regard  to 
ranky  education,  or  any  other  accompUshmentf 
where  we  continued  from  the  setting  to  the  ris- 
ing sun ;  and,  as  sundry  of  them  >vere  .infect- 
ed with  the  goal  and  other  distempers,  the  fur- 
niture of  this  spacious  room  consisted  princi- 
pally of  excrement  tubs.  We  petitioned  for  a 
removal  of  the  sick  into  the  hospitals,  but  were 
denied.  We  remonstrateu  against  the  ungen- 
erou&us&ge  of  being  confined  with  the  privates, 
as  being  contrary  to  the  laws  and  customs  of 
nations,  and  particularly  ungrateful  in  them,  in 
consequence  of  the  gentleman-like  usage  which 
the,  British  ipiprisoned  officers  met  with  in  A- 
merica  ;  and  thus  we  wearied  ourselves,  peti- 
tioning  and  remonstrating,  but  to  no  purpose  at 
all ;  for  gen.  Massey,  who  commanded  at  Hal- 
ifax, was  as  inflexible  as  the  devil  himself,  a 
fine  preparative  this  for  Mr.  Lovel,  member  of 
the  continental  congress. 

Lieut.  Rusself  whom  I  have  mentioned  be- 
^Qftty  came  to  visit  me  in  prison,  and  assured 


i 


m 


in 


'I 


f 


i 


S  i 


ilifisfej/- 


70 


A  NARRATIV^E    OF 


I    ! 


me  that  he  had  done  his  utmost  tb  prociire  tiiy 
parole  for  enlargement ;  at  which  a  British  cap- 
'  taih,  who  was  then  the  toivii  majof,  expres- 
^^ed  compaission  for  the  ^eiitfeinen  coitfiheS  in 
'  the  fihhy  place,  and  asstired  me  tliat  he-had 
used  his  influence  to  procure,  their  enlarge- 
ment J  his  name  was  near  like  Ramsay.  j\mdng 
the  prisoners,  there  were  five  in  number,  who 
had  a  legal  claim  to  their  parole,  viz.  James 
Lovel,  Esq.  capt.  Francis  Proctor,  a  Mr.  How- 
land,  master  of  a  continental  armed  vessel,  a 
Mr.  laylor,  his  mate,  and  myself. 
'      As  to  the  article  of  provision,  we  were  Well 
'  served,  much  better  than  in  any  part  of  my 
captivity;  and,  since  it  was  Mr.  Lovers  mis- 
fortune and  mine  to  be  prisoners,  at^d  in  so 
wretched  circumstances,  I  was  happy  that  we 
Were  together  as  a  mutual  support  to  each  oth- 
er, an^  to  the  unfortunate  prisoners  with  us. 
Our  first  attention  was  the  preservation  of  bur- 
selves  and  injured  little  republic  ;  the  rest  of 
our   time  we  devoted  interchangeably  to  poli- 
tics and  philosophy,  as  patience  was  a  needful 
exercise  in  so  evil  a  situation,  but  contentment 
mean  and  impracticable. 


^:2:3is^- 


''■^t/p^^Wfw'T' ' 


•> ;!  '''^  T'  *:; 


tish  *cap- 
,  expreis- 
lifiheSin 

■  enlarge - 
^Among 
iber,  who 
z.  James 
Ir.  How- 
vessel,  a 

were  Well 
t  of  my 
v^el's  hiis- 
aiid  in  so 
y  that  we 
each  oth- 
witli  us. 
)n  of  bur- 
e  rest  of 
to  poli- 

needful 
Itentment 


\ 


COL.   E.   ALLEN  S    CAPTIVITY. 


71 


I  had  not  been  in  this  gaol  many  days,  before 
a  worthy  and  charitable  woman,  Mrs.  Blacden, 
by  name,  supplied  me  with  a  good  dinner  of 
fresh,  meats  every  day,  w  ith  garden  fruit,  and 
s(>i>ietimes  with  a  bottle  pf  wine  ;  notwithstand-  , 
ing  which  I  had  not  been  more  three  weeks  in 
this  place,  before  I  lost  all  appetite  to  the  most . 
delicious  food,  by  the  gaol  distemper,  as  also 
did  sundry  of  the  prisoners,  particularly  a  ser- 
geant Moore,  a  man  of  courage  and  fidelity  • 
I  have  several  times  seen  him  hold  the  boat- 
swain of  the  Solebay  frigate,  when  he  attempt- 
ed to  strike  him,  and  laushed  him  out  of  con-  , 

ccit  or  usmg  him  as  a  slave. 

®  .    ;  •  ■■  •         .       .iff  u  oi  *!^3  . 

A  doctor  visited  the  sick,  an4  aid  the  best, 
as  r  suppose,  he  could  for  them,  to  no  appar- 
ent  purpose.  I  grew  weaker  and  weaker,  as 
did  the  rest.  Several  of  them  could  not  help 
themselves.  At  last  I  reasoned  in  my  own 
mind,  that  raw  onion  would  be  good :  I  made 
use  of  it,  au4  fpund  immediate  relief  by  it,  as 
did  the  sick  in  general,  particularly  sergeant, 
Moore,  whom  it  recovered  almost  from  the 
shades  ;  though  I  had  met  with  a  little  revival, 
still  I  found  the  malignant  hand  of  Britain  had 


t>L 


'^\ 


H 


'}i 


y 


^ 


m 

I  i,     '     1 

Ik 

Hi 


i 


h 


/rn'Mtofmriar^ 


! 


n   ' 


k,*^  -i 


I 


72 


^  A' NARRATIVE  Of 


AO-.i 


upon  ktrokef.  E^uireLoveV  and  myself  used 
et'iery  aff^untbiiiand  entreaty  tfeat  tould  be  well 
conceived  of,  in  order  to  obtain  gentlemaplJi*^ 
uss(ge|  to  no  purpose.  I  then  wijote  gen/ JSw- • 
5^3^  assevere  a  Utter  as  I  possibly  could,  wim 
niy  fAtiid  JLoveTs  Assistance :  ^fce  cont^s 
of'rt  was  'te  ^ive  tlie  mtUti,  as  a  nation,  and 
hini  as  ah  ihcirvidukirtneir  tn&  character.  This 
roused  the  i^scid,  for  he  could  not  bear  to  sec 
his  and  ^^is  nation's  defbrniity  in  that  tra?ispar- 
ent  letter,  wiueh  1  sent  him ;  He  therefore  put 
himself  in  ^a  great  rag^  abblit  it,  and  shevi^d 
the  letter  to  a  number  of  British  officers,  p§r- 
ticuiarly  id  cairt.  Smith  ci"  the  Lark  frigate, 
whts^  instead  of  joining  Witti  hhn 'in  disappio- 
bation,tommertdeld'th6  spirit  of  It;  ti^oriWhicli 
geni'M^ssey  ^id  to  hini;  do  you  take  the  part 
of  a  reb^l  against  ine  f  Capt.  Smith  answered, 
that  lie  rather  spoke  his  sentiments,  and  there 
was  adissei^isibni^  opinion  between  them. 
Some  officers  took  thi  part  of  the  geiieral,  and 
others  of  the  ^^^ih :  This  I  wa^s  inlbM- 
ed  by  a  gef^mdft  Xvho'  had  it  from  caption 


1 


Hi 
Ti 

ait 


stroke 
;|fu6ed 
be  well 


1.  AW-  • 

d,  wim 
ontdits 
Ml,  aiid 
•  This 
to  sec 
tispar- 

ire  but 

.  m  i- 


5,    I^- 

rigjfte, 
appi  o- 


e  part 
v^red, 
there 
them. 
!,  aitd 
fontt- 


COL.   £•  ALXIN'S  C^FJIVITY. 


73 


In  a  few  days  ate-^us,  tbe  prisfiiieirs  mrt 
oidered  to  go  on  board  of  a  rim  of  iMsur,  ,which 
was  boimd  for  New-YoA  f  but  iWo  of  tli€»ii 
lifare  not  able  to  go  oa  bo»rd>  .^d  were  leUt  at 
H^ax;  one  died,  and  the  other  recovered. 
Tiiis  was  about  the  12th  of  Octob<^r,  and-spon 
after  we  had  got  on  board,  the  :;aptain  sent  for 
me  in  p^icular  to  come  pn  the  quarter  deck,: 
I  went,  not  konwing  that  it  was  capt.  Smith,  or 
his  ship  at  that  time,  and  expected  tq  meet  the 

'  SBxap  rigorous  usage  I  bad  cpmmoiily  met  with, 
and  prepared  my  mind  accordingly ;  but  when 
I  came  on  deck,  jthe  captain  met  me  wiUv  his 
hand,  welcomed  me  to  his  ship,  invite^  me  to 
dine  with  him  that  day,  and  assured  n*e  that  I 
should  be  treated  as  a  gentleman,  and  that  he 
Imd  given  orders,  that  I  should  be  treated  with 
respect  by  the  ship's  crew.  This  was  so  unes-  . 
pected  and  sudden  a  transition,  that  it  drew 
tears  from  my  eyes,  which  all  the  ill  usages  I 

.  had  before  met  with,  was  not  able  to  produce, 
nor  could  I  at  first  hardly  speak,  but  soon  re- 
covered myself  and  expressed  my  gratitude  for 
so  unexpected  a  favor ;  ind  let  him  know  that 
I  felt  anxiety  of  mind  Ihfeflecting  th^ius^tu- 

a' 


it 

r 


4 


;*4 


fi 


^i] 


fy 


74 


A  NARRATIAE  OF 


.l\ 


ation  and  mkie  was  such,  that  it  was.not  proba- 
ble  that  it  would  ever  be  m  my  power  to  re- 
turn the  favor.    Capt  Smith  replied  that  he 
had  no  reward  in  view,  but  only  treated  me  as 
a  gentleman  ought  to  be< treated;  he  said  this 
is  a  mutable  world,  and  one  gentleman  never 
knows  but  it  may  be  in  his  power  to  help  anO^ 
ther.     Soon  after  I  found  this  to  be  ti^    same 
capt.  Smith  who  took  my  part  against  ^h, 
Massey ;  but  he  never  mentioned  any  thing  of 
it  to  me,  and  I  thought  it  impolite  in  me  to 
interrogate  him,  as  to  any  disputes  which  might 
have  arisen  between  him  and  the  gen.  on  my 
account,  as  I  was  a  prisoner,  and  that  it  was  a^ 
his  option  to  make  free  with  me  on  tliat  subject, 
if  he  pleased ;  and,  if  he  did  not,  I  might  take 
it  fw  granted  that  it  would  be  unpleasing  for 
me  to  query  about  it,  though  I  had  a  stiorig 
propensity  to  converse  with  him  on  that  sub- 
ject. 

I  dined  with  the  captain  i\greeable«  to  his  in. 

vitation,  and  oftentimes  vrith  the  lieutenant,  in 

,  the  gun  room,  but  in  general  ate  and  drank  with 

my  friend  Lovel  .and  the  other  gendemen, 

who  were  prisoners  with  me,  where  I  also  slept. 


.\\ 


-■■■  \ 


COL  E.  Allen's  captivity. 


75 


Wie  had  a  litde  birth  enclosed  with  canvas, 
between  decks,  where  %ve  enjoyed  ourselves 
very  well,  in  hopes  of^  an  exchange ;  besides, 
Qur  friends  at  Haiilax  had  a  little  notice  of  our 
departure,  and  supplied  us  with  spirituous  li- 
quor, and  many  articles  of  provision  for  the 
coasts  Capt.  Burk,  having  been  taken  prisoner, 
was  added  to  our  company,  (he  had  command- 
ed an  American  armed  vessel)  and  was  gene- 
rously treated  by  the  captain  and  all  the  officers 
of  the  ship,  as  well  as  myself.  We  now  had  in 
all  hear  thirty  prisoners  on  board,  and  as  we 
were  sailing  along  the  eoast,  if  I  recollect  right, 
oflF  l^dde-Island,  eapt.  Burk,  with  an  under 
officer  of  the  ship,  whose  name- 1  do  not  recol- 
lect, eame  to  our  little  birth,  proposed  to  kill 
capt>  Stnith  and  the  principal  officers  of  tlie  fri- 
gdte  and  take  it ;  adding  that  there  were  thirty 
five  thousand  ponnds  sterling  in  the  same,  capt* 
Burk  likewise  averred  that  a  strong  party  out 
of  the  ship's  crew  was  ih  conspiracy,  and  urg- 
ed me,  and  the  gentleman  that  was  with  me, 
to  use  our  influence  with  the  private  prison 
ners,  to  execute  the  design,  and  take  the  ship 
with  the  cash  into  one  of  our  own  ports* 


^;l 


t 


I 


76 


A  NARKATIVl  OP 


.  Upon  which  I  replied,  that  we  had  been  loo 
weU  used  on  board  tO'  murder  the  officers ;  that 
I  could  by  no  means  retoncile  it  to  my  con- 
ffcience,  and  that  in  fact  it  should  not  be  done ; 
and,  while  I  was  yet  speaking,  my  friend  Lov- 
el  confirmed  what  I  had  said,  and  farther  point- 
ed out  the  ungratefulness  of  such  an  aet ;  that 
it  did  not  fall  short  of  murder,  and  in  fine  all 
the  gentlemen  in  the  birth  opposed  capt  Burk 
and  his  colleague :  But  they  strenously  urged 
that  the  conspiraGy  would  be  found  out,  and 
it  Would  cost  them  their  lives,  provided  they 
did  not  execute  their  design.  I  then  intqr* 
posed  spiritedly,  and  put  an  end  to  farther  Ar- 
gument on  the  subject,  and  told  them  they 
might  depend  upon  it^  upon  my  honor,  that  I 
wouM  faithfully  guard  capt.  Smith's  life :  If 
they  should  attempt  the  assault,  I  would  assist 
him,  for  they  desired  me  to  remain  neuter,  and 
that  the  sfatiie  honor  that  guarded  capt.  Smith's 
Kfc,  would  also  guard  theirs ;  and  it  Was  agreed 
by  those  presisnt  not  to  reveal  the  conspiracy, 
totheintentthat  noman  should  be  put  to  deaths 
in  consequence  of  what  had  been  projector ; 
and  ca|)t.  Burk  md  his  colleague  went  to  s^ 


— >I»F'   "» ^"Wi^^** 'v^ -MA-V ^ 


cot.  !•  AiLEJr'S  CAPTIVITY. 


77 


"srUiat 

ly  con- 
idone; 
dLov- 
rpoifitK 
t}  Oat 
fine  all 
LBurk 
'  argcd 
ut,  and 
edthey 
n  int^« 
her  ir- 
1  they 
,  that  I 
fe:    If 
d  assist 
er,  and 
smith's 

agreed 
piraciy, 

deatb^ 
lectQfi; 

tostiie 


Ibe 'itutler  amotig  tiieir  «ssociates.  I  could 
upl  help  calling  to  mind  what  capt  Smith  said 
to  v^f  when  I  first  came  on  board  ;  **  This  is 
a  mutable  world,  and  one  gentleman  never 
l^iows  but  that  it  may  be  in  his  power  to  help 
another*"  Captain  Smith  and  his  officers  still 
behaved  with  their  usual  courtesy,  and  I  nev- 
•^r  hea]f4  ^uiy  more  of  the  conspiracy. 

Wc  ^ived  before  New  York,  end  cast  an- 
fit^  the  latter  >art  of  October  where  we  rc- 
Jna^led  several  days,  and  where  capt.  Smith 
informed  me,  that  he  had  recommended  me  to 
ad^li*  JSowe  and  gen.  sir  William  Howe,  as  a 
gentleman  of  honor  and  veracity,  and  desired 
4iat  I  might  be  treated  as  such.  Capt.  Burk 
was  then  ordered  onboard  a  prison^ip  in  the 
harbor.  I  took  my  leave  of  capt.  Smith)  and, 
widi  tlie  other  prisoners,  was  sent  on  board  a 
transport-ship,  which  lay  in  the  harbor,  com. 
manded  by  capt.  Craige,  who  took  me  into  die 
cabin  'with  him  and  his  lieut. '  I  fared  as  they 
^,  and  was  in  every  respect  well  treated,  in 
cQiisequenQe  of  xl^^^'^tioiis  from  capt.  Smith. 
Ifia.&w  weeks  after  this  I  had  th^  happiness 

to  part  with  my  friend  Lovel,  for  his  sa!&e, 
G  8 


78 


A  NARRATIVB    OT 


whom  the  tricniy  tMettid  to  tretti  as  H  pTivai^ ; 
he  was  a  gcifitlenlan  of  merit,  iaiid  KbertHyed- 
ucated,  but  had  nb  comniiteion ;  they  malign- 
ed him  on  aecouilt  of  his'  unshaken  attachtnent 
to  the  cause  of  his  country.    He  was  exchan- 
ged for  a^Ov.  Phillij)  SkeneoftheBritish.  I  was 
conthraed  in  this  ship  tiH  the  latterpart  of  No^ 
vember,'  where  I  contracted  an  acquahltance 
with  the  captain  of  the  British  ;  his  Yiame  has 
•slipj^ed  my  memory.    He  was  what  we  may 
call  a  genteel  hearty  fellow.    I  remember  an 
expression  of  hb  over  a  bottle  of  wine,  to  this 
import :  "  That  there  is  greatness  of  soul  for 
personal  friendship  to  subsist  between  you  and 
me,  asv  we  are  upon  opposite  sides,  and  may  at 
another  day  be  obliged  to  face  each  other  in  the 
field."    I  am  confident  that  he  was  as  faithftil 
as  any  officer  in  the  British  army.    At  another 
sitting  he  offered  to  bet  a  dozen  of  wine,  diat 
fort  Washington  would  be  in  die  hands  of  the 
British  in  three  days.     I  stood  the  bet,  and 
would,  had  !  known  thatthat  would  have  been 
the  case,  and  the  third  day  afterwards  we  heard 
a  prodigious  heavy  cannonade,  and  diat  ^y 
the  -fort  was  taken  sure  enough.    Some-  Itionths 


COL.  £.  ALlEN*S    CAPTIVITY. 


ftligti- 
it^cnt 
:chan- 
Iwas 
»fNo, 
itanee 
tie  has 
;•  may 

to  this 
oul  for 
)u  and 
nay  at 
in  the 
mthfiil 
nother 
e^diat 
s  of  the 
tt,  and 
e  been 
i  heard 
at  ^y 
ftoAths 


79 


after^.wfaen  1  ivas  6h  ^rdle^^  called' u{>on  me 
with  his  Uflual  humor^and  mctitioiied  the  bet. 
1  a^knowledgeil  Ihat  I  hieA  lost  it,  but  he  said 
he  did  not  ^^n'  to  ti&e  it  th^,  as  I  w^s  a  pH- 
s(Aier ;  that  he  Wonld  aitothei*  day  call  on  mc 
^vhen  then*  army  came  to  Benningttm.    I  ie- 
pHed,  that  he  was  q(uite  tob  generous,  as  I  had 
fiiirly  lost  it:    besides,  the  Green  Mounts 
boys  would  not  suffer  them  to  come  to  Beh- 
ningtoti.     This  was  ^1  in   good  humor.'  I 
should  have  been  glad  to  have  seen  him  after 
the  defeat  at  Bennington,  but  did  not.    It  was 
customary  for  a  guiatd  to  attend  the  prisoners, 
which  Was  6ft^h  Changed.    One  was  compos- 
ed ttftdHcs  from  Connecticut,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Faitfield  and  Green  Farms,  the  sergeant's 
name  was  Hoit.     They  were  very  full  of  their 
invectives  against  the  countiy,  s^vaggfered  of 
theit"  loyalty  *o  their  king,  and  exclaimed  bit- 
teHy  against  tiie  *^  cowardly  yankies,"  as  they 
<  were  pleased  to  term  them,  but  finally  contet^- 
ed  themselves  with   saying   that,  when  the 
country  was  overcome,  they  should  be    well 
-rewarded  for  their  .loyalty,,  out  of  the  estates 
'<$f-^  ^vi4Hg6,  -wMch    WGold  be,  confiscat- 


1:1 


I 


'! 


tro 


JL    NARAATtVX   OF 


ed.  This  I  found  t»b^^  gqieralJaDguage 
of  tories,  after  I  univod  from  England  on  the 
American  coa»t.  V  I^)?ieard  aundry  of  t|iem  re- 
faite,  that  the  Briiish  generals  had,  engag(^ 
them  an  ample  reward  for  all  their  ipsseSv  dis- 
appointments and  expenditurejs,  out  of  the  for- 
jfeited  rebeb'  estates.  This  language  esa^ly 
taught  me  what  to  do  with  tones'  estates,  as 
far  as  my  influence  can  go.  For  it  is  really  a 
ganfe  of  hazard  between  whig  and  tory :  The 
is^igs  mu$t  inevitably  have  lost  all,  in  conse- 
quence  of  the  abilties  of  the  tories,  >and  their 
good  friends,  the  British ;  and  it  is  no  more 
than  right  the  tories  should  run  the  same  risk, 
in  consequence  of  the  abilities  of  the  whigs  : 
^  But  of  this  more  will  be  observed  in  the  sequel 
of  this  narrative. 

Some,  of  the  last  days  of  November,  the  pris- 
.  oners  were  landed  at  New  York,  and  I  was  ad- 
mitted to  parole  with  the  other  officers,  viz. 
•  Procter,  Howland  and  Taylor.  The  privates 
were  put  into  the  filthy  churches  in  New  York, 
with  the  distressed  prisoners  that  were  taken  at 
fort  Washington  :  and  the  second  ni^t,  ser- 
geant Roger  Moore,  who  was^  Md  and  tn^er- 


aguage 
OQ  the 
em  re- 

e&,  dis- 
(he  foe 
5  early 
Ltes,  as 
leally  a 
:  The 
conse- 
d  their 
>  more 
ie  risky 
rhigs  : 
sequel 


e  pris- 
mas ad- 
yiz. 
ivates 
York, 
ken  at 
t,  s^r- 
cmcr- 


COL.  £.    ALhZV  S  CAPTIVITY. 


fQHOd 


^1 


1: 


pria;ing,  iQUQd  iQeans  to  liia)K^  Ms  escape  wjil|| 
every  of  the  r^mainifig  prisoiia's  tli^t  were  V^r 
en  with  me,  ejgcept  thl^>  who  were  soon  alter 
exch^ged ;  ,So  that,  put^oC^irty-on^. prison- 
ers, who  went  with  me  the.  round  exhi)i>lted  in 
these  sheets,  two  oAly  died  w^th  the  enemy,  and 
three  only  were  exclianged ;  oiie  oC  whom  died 
alter  he  came  within  pur  lines  ;  and  th^,  rest, 
at  different  tipd^s,  made  tht^lr  qscape  jiirom  the 
enemy. 

,4  npw^bund  myself  on  parole,  and  restrict- 
ed, t^  the  limits  of  the  cityofNew  York,  where 
I  soon  projected  means, to  live  in  some  measure 
agree^e  to  my  rank,  though  I  was  destitute 
of  cash.  My  constitution  was  almost  worn 
out  by  such  a  long  and  barbarous  captivity. 
The  enemy  gave  out  that  I  was  crazy  ,and  whol- 
ly unmanned,  bi^t  my  vitals  held  sound,  nor 
was  I  delirious  any  more  than  I  have  been  frcm 
youth  up  ;  my  extreme  circumstances  at  cer- 
tain times,  repdered  it  political  to  act  m  some 
meiysure  the,  madman  ;  and,  in  consequence 
of  a  regular  diet  and  exercise,  my  blood  re- 
cruited, a|m|;my  nerves  in  a  gieat  measure  rr- 


:\i 


li    tu    ^*.    w 


IP 

'I 


I 


m 


A  HARRATIVE  OF 


covered  their  Ibrikier  totie,  strength  tmd  usel^^ 
ness,  in  the  coarse  of  six  months. 

i  next  invite  the  Mraider  to  a  retrospective 
sight  and  consideratiohof  the  doleful  scene  of 
inhumiinity,  exercised  by  gen.  sir  William 
ttowe,  and  the  army  under  his  command,  to- 
wards  the  prisoners  taken  on  Long  I^nd,  on 
the  27th  day  of  August,  1776;  sundry  of 
whom  were,  in  an  inhuman  and  barbarous 
manner,  murdered  after  they  had  surrendered 
theirarms  ;  particulariy  a  gen.  Odel,  or  Wood- 
hul,  of  the  militia,  who  was  hacked  to  pieces 
with  cutlasses,  when  alive,  by  the  light  horse- 
men, and  a  capt.  Fellows  of  the  Continental  ar- 
my, who  was  thrust  through  with  a  bayonet, 
of  which  wound  he  died  instantly. 

Sundry  others  were  hanged  up  by  the  neck 
till  thfcy  were  dead ;  five  on  the  limb  of  a 
white  oak  tree,  and  without  any  reason  as- 
signed, except  that  they  were  fighting  in  dcr 
fence  of  the  only  blessing  worth  preserving  : 
And  indeed  those  who  had  the  misfortune  to 
fall  into  their  hands  at  fort  Washington,  in 
the  month  of  Nov.  following,  msX  with  but 
very  little  better  usage,  except  that  they  were 


COL.  E.  ALL£N'&  captivity. 


83 


€ctive 
5cne  of 
William 
rtd,  to- 
and,  on 
dry   of 
rbdrous 
indercd 
Wood- 
a  pieces 
ithorse- 
ntal  af- 
)ayonet, 

eneck 
h   of  a 
ison  as- 
g  in  dcr 

rving  •• 
tunc  to 
ton,   in 

ith  but 
ley  were 


reserved  £rom  immediate  death  to  famish  and 
die  with  hunger ;  in  fiiie,  the  word  rebel,^  apr 
plied  to  any  vanquished  persons,  without  re- 
gard to  rank,  who  \vete*  in  the  contipental 
service,  on  tlie  27th  of  August  aforesaid^  was 
thought,  by  the  enemy,  sufficient  to  sanctif;^ 
whatever  cruelties  they  were  fileused  to  infiict, 
death  itself  not  excepted;  but  to  pass  over 
particulars  which  would  swell  my  narrative  far 
beyond  my  de^gn— 

The  private  soldiers,  who  were  brought  to 
New-York,  were  crowded  into  churches,  and 
environed  with  slavish  Hessian  guards,  a  peo- 
ple of  a  strange  language,  who  were  sent  to  A- 
merica  for  no  other  design  but  cruelty  and  de- 
solation ;  and  at  others,  by  merciless  Britons, 
whose  mode  of  communicating  ideas  beitig  in~ 
teliigible  in  this  country  served  only  to  tan 
talize  and  insult  the  helpless  and  perishing  ; 
but,  above  all,  the  hellish  delight* and  triumph 
of  the  tories  over  them,  as  they  were  dying  by 
hundreds :  This  was  too  much  for  me  to  bear 
as  a  spectator ;  for  I  saw  the  tories  exulting 
over  the  dead  bodies  of  their  murdered  coun- 
trymen,    I  have  gone  into  the  churches,   and 


\^^ 


■|     s 


'111 


1  i 


i\\ 


i  11 


m 


A    NARRATIVE    OF 


seen  sundry  of  the  pmone#ft  in  the  agonies 
(^deatii,  in  conseq!»ence  of  very  hunger,  and 
others  speechless,  and  near  death,  biting  pieces 
of  chips;  others  pleading  for  God's  sake,  for 
something  jto  eat,  and  at  the  same  time,  shiver- 
ing with  the  cold.  Hollow  groans  saluted  my 
ears,  and  despair  seemed  to  be  imprinted  on 
every  of  their  countenances.  The  filth  in 
these  churches  in  consequence  of  fne  fluxes, 
was  almost  beyond  description.  The  floors 
were  covered  with  excrements.  I  have  care- 
fully sought  to  direct  my  steps  so  as  to  avoid 
it,  but  could  not.  They  would  beg  for  God's 
sake  for  one  copper,  or  morsel  of  bread.  I 
have  seen  in  one  of  these  churches  seven  dead, 
at  the  same  time,  lying  among  the  excrements 
of  their  bodies. 

It  was  a  common  practice  with  the  enemy, 
to  convey  the  dead  from  these  filthy  places 
in  carts,  to  be  slightly  buried,  and  !  have  seen 
whole  gangs  of  lories  making  derision,  and  ex- 
ulting over  the  dead,  saying  there  goes  another 
load  of  damned  rebels.  I  have  obserwrd  the 
British  soldiers  to  be  full  of  their  black-guard 


gonies 
er,  and 
pieces 
k€,  fcMT 
shiver- 
itcd  my 
nted  on 
filth  in 
B  fluxes, 
le  floors 
ve  care- 
to  avoid 
>r  God's 
•ead.     I 
en  dead, 
;rements 

enemy, 

n.  places 

ave  seen 

and  ex- 
i  another 

r\cd  the 
ik-guard 


COL.  E.    ALLZN's  CAFTIVXTy^.  &5  ; 

jokes  and  vaunting  on  those  occ^s  ons» .  h^t' 
they  appeared  to  me  less  malignant  than  tlie 
tories. 

The  provision  dealt  out  to  the  prisoners  was 
by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  support  of  life* 
It  was  deficient  in  quantity,  and  much  more 
so  in  quality.  The  prisoners  often  pre^jcnted 
me  widi  a  sample  of  their  bread,  which  I  certify 
was  damaged  to  that  degree,  that  it  was  loath* 
some  and  unfit  to  be  eaten,  and  I  am  bold  to 
aver  it,  as  my  opinion,  that  it  hail  been  con-, 
demned,  and  was  of  the  vtry  worst  sort.  I 
have  seen  and  been  fed  upon  damaged  bread, 
in  the  course  of  my  captivity,  and  observed  the 
quality  of  such  bread  as  has  been  condemned 
by  the  enemy,  among  which  was  very  little  so 
effectually  spoiledas  what  was  dealt  out  to  these 
prisoners.  Their  allowance  of  meat  (as  they 
told  me)  W2L3  quite  trifling,  and  of  the  basest 
sort.  I  never  saw  any  of  it,  but  was  informed 
bad  as  it  was,  it  was  swallowed  almost  as 
quick  as  they  got  hold  of  it.  I  saw  some  of 
them  sucking  bones  after  they  were  speech- 
less;  others  who  could  yet  speak,  and  had 

the  use   of  their  reason,   urged  me,  in  the 
H 


1  {■ 


I    ",  ^i 


I 


K 


86 


A  NARRATIVE  OF 


It 


strongest  and  most  pathetic  manner,  to  uae 
my  interest  in  their  behalf ;  for  you  plainly 
see,  said  they,  that  we  are  devoted  to  death 
and  destruction  ;  and,  after  I  had  examined 
inore  particularly  into  their  truly  deplora- 
ble condition,  and  had  become  more  fully  ap* 
prized  of  the  essential  facts,  I  was  pcrsuad. 
-eu  that  it  was  a  premeditated  and  systema- 
ticul  plan  of  the  British  council,  to  destroy 
th^  youths  of  our  land,  with  a  view  thereby 
vo  ilcter  the  country,  and  make  it  submit  to 
(heir  despotism  ;  but  that  I  could  not  do 
them  any  material  service,  and  that,  l)y  any 
public  attempt  for  that  purpose,  I  might  en- 
danger myself  by  frequenting  places  the 
most  nauseous  and  contagious  that  could  be 
conceived  of.  I  refrained  going  into  the 
churches,  but  frequently  conversed  with 
such  of  the  prisoners  as  were  admitted  to 
come  out  into  the  yr\rd,  and  found  that  the 
systematical  usage  still  contiu'^ed.  The 
guard  would  often  ci.  ive  me  away  with  their 
fixed  bayonets.  A  Hessian  one  day  follow- 
ed me  five  or  six  rods,  but  by  making  use  of 
my  legs,  I  got  rid  of  ih*  lubber.     Some- 


r    II' 


COL  £.  Allen's  captivity. 


^'^ 


to  uae 

)  death 
mined 
iplora- 
Uy  ap- 
rsuadi 

i 

itema- 
estroy 
lereby 
mit  t6 
ibt  do 
t)y  any 
jht  en- 
?s  the 
uhi  be 
ito  the 

with 
ted  to 
lat  the 

The 
b  their 
follow- 
u^e  of 
Some- 


times I  could  obtain  a  little  conversation, 
notwithstanding  Uieir severities. 

I  was  in  one  of  the  church  yards,  and  it 
|vas  rumoured  among  those  in  the  church, 
and  sundry  of  the  prisoners  came  with  their 
usual  complaints  to  me,  and  among  the  res| 
a  krge 'boned,  tall  young  man,  as  he  told  me, 
from  Pennsylvainia,  who  was  reduced  to  a 
atere  skeleton  ;  he  said  he  was  glad  to  see 
me  befbrv  he  dsed,  which  he  had  expected 
to  have  done  last  night,  but  was  a  little  ret 
vived  ;  he  furthermore  informed  me,  that  he 
and  his  brother  had  been  urged  to  enlist  in »- 
to  the  British,  but  had  both  resolved  to  die 
&*st ;  that  his  brother  had  died  last  night,  in 
consequence  of  that  resolution,  and  that  he 
expected  shortly  to  follow  him  ;  but  I  made 
the  other  prisoners  stand  a  little  off,  and  tokl 
him  with  a  low  voice  to  enlist ;  he  then  ask- 
ed, whether  it  was  right  in  the  sight  of  God  ; 
I  assured  him  that  it  was,  and  that  duty  to 
himself  obliged  him  to  deceive  the  British  by 
eiriisting  and  deserting  the  first  oppor  unity ; 
u  pon  which  he  answered  with  transport,  that 
he  would  enlist.     I  charged  him  not  to  men- 


I 


88 


A   NARRATIVE    Of 


I 


tion  my  name  as  his  adviser,  least  it  should  get 
air,  and  I  should  be  closely  confined,  in  cofi- 
sequence  of  it.'  The  integrity  of  these  auf- 
iering  prisoners  is  hardly  credible.  Many 
hundreds.  lam  confident,  submitted  totidatk) 
rather  than  enlist  in  the  British  service,* 
,wliiGh,:  I  am  informed^  they imos«  generally 
iH^er6  pressed  to  doi  I  -was  astonished  at  the 
resolution  of  the  two  brothers,  particularly ; 
at  seemi^that  they  could  n^t  be  stioiulat^d  tQ 
such  exertions  of  heroism  firoi^ambition^  as 
tb^  were  but  obscure  soldiers;^  strong im 
deed  must  the  internal  principle  of  virvuetjie, 
which  supported  them  to  brave  death,  and 
one  of  dheni  went  through  the  operation^  is 
did  many  hundred  others.  I  readily  grant 
t\m.  instances  c^  public  virtue«are  lio  excite^ 
'  ^nt  to  the  sordid  and  vicious,  nor  oh  the  o- 
ther  hand,  will  all  the  barbarity  of  Britain -and 
Hesse  awaken  them  to  a  sense  of  their  diity 
tb  the  public  $  but  these  things  wiil  have 
their  proper  effect  on  the  generous  and 
brave. -^The  officers  on  parole  were  iwost 
of  them  zealous,  if  possible,  to  afford  the 
miserable  soldiery  relief,  and  often  consulted 


Lildget 
tncon- 
se  fliuf- 
Many 
tddeitb, 
•rvice,* 
nerftUy 
i  9t  tlie 
ilarly; 
ated  tQ 
:ionr  as 

ta,'and 
10 11)  as 
r  grant 
excite- 
1  the  o- 
ainaiid 
ir  dttty 
I  have 
s  arid 
i  most 
>rd  the 

)8Uit^d 


COL.  E.  Allen's  CAPTIVITY. 


«9 


tKith  one, another  00  the  subj/ec^  but  to  iiq 
effect^  being  destitute  of  the  means  of  sub^. 
sistence,  which^  they  needed ;  nor  could  ttM(i 
officers  project  any  masui;e*  which  they 
thought  would  alter  their  fate»  or  so  muck 
asi  be  a  mean  of  getting  them  out  of  those 
filthy  places  to  the  priviledge  of  fresh  air* 
Some  projected  that  all  the  officers  should 
go  in  procession  to  gen.  Hovire,  and  plead 
the  cause  of  the  perishing  soldiers;  but  this 
proposal  was  negatived  for  the  Hollowing  rea- 
sons, ¥iz,  because  thatgen.  How^mustneeds 
l?c  well  acquainted,  and  have  a , thorough 
Imowledge  of  the  state  and  condition' of  the 
prisoners  in  every  of  their  wretched  apart-, 
ments,  and  that  much  more  particular  and  ex- 
act than  any  officer  on  parole  could,  be  siip« 
posed  to  ha ve^  as  the  geneVal  hada  i£turn  of 
thecircumstancesof  the  prisoners,  by  his  owii 
officers,  every  morning,  of  the  number  which 
were  alive,  as  also  the  number  which  died 
every  twenty-four  hours;  and  consequently 
the  bill  of  mortality,  as  collected  from  the 
daily  returnsf  lay  before  him  with  all  the 
material  situations  and  circumstances  of  the 

H3 


■I 


f- 


90 


^a'  Ij^arhatiae  Of 


P*  '-Mf     '    ' 
I 

t 


K'f  ,. 


gb  in   procession   id  gen.  HoWe^   iio6o^. 

11^  i6  the  |»^r jectioh*!  it  w^uid  g^iVe  him  the 

l^re^^r  affk-ont^  and  that  he   would  eittbr 

retdft  nfow  theifi;  tha(t  it  was  no  part  cif  theit 

ptitdk  to^  instruct  him  in  his  conduct  to«pri« 

sdn^rr;'  tliiat  they  were  mutinying  agall^ 

his  authority^  am!,  by  affronting  him,  had . 

f6Yfehed  their  paMe  ;   or  that  more  probab^ 

tyj  instead  of  saying   one  word  to  thenii 

wsouid  order  them  all  into  as  wretcheds  cont 

finement  as  the  soldiers  whom  tfiey-80Xi|^t 

to  relieve;  for,  at  that  time,  the  Beitish^^ 

fmni  tue  g'^^tral  to  the  privaie  centiAcI,  wer6 

in  full  confidence,  nor  did  they  so  much  K$ 

hesitate,  but  that  they  should  conquer  t3m 

country*     Thus  the  consultation  o£  the  ofi> 

ficcrs  was  cioofdunded  and  broken  to  pieces, 

in  consequence  of  the  dread,  which  atthftt 

time  lay  6n  their  minds,  .of  offending  gem 

Howe;  for  they  conceiyed  soMnurdecous  a 

tyrant  would  riot.be  too  goodta  d^troy  eren 

the  officer^,  oni  the  least  pretence  of  ah  afsr 

front,  as  they  wei'e  equally  in  his.  poivfr  with 

the  soldiers;  and,  as  gcn^  Howe  p^^ctly 


V-»»'<J»»- 


COL.  £.  ALEBH's  CA?TiyiTY. 


91 


toprU 

robabNi 
theiri« 
s  cont 

ritishv 
I,  wcri 
uch  M 
ler  tlift 
the  of^ 
pieces^ 

cous  a 
iy  even 
'  ah  a£r 

a^fcctlf 


uridefstoojcl the  teidiUim  <tf  flKifH^wtetfol'f 
dtera,  it  waa  ar|^i  mI  that  it  #aa  exactly  auch 
as  he  $nd  h»8  ocrjncil4iad4leiif8edf  and  as  he 
meantto  ddsrrbf  thcdt  it  ir^uld  be  to  no  pur« 
poat  ibr  tHem  to  tr^  to  dissuade  him  from  '•'■' 
as  thejr  w^e  helpless  and  liable  to  the  sa  « 
fate,:  oif  gitini^  the  leasft  afiront;  inde 
anxibus  apprehensions  disiiirbed  them  ki 
thtir^n  circinnsitances; 

Mean  time  mortality  raged  to  such  M  in*' 
tolerable  dc(^e  kmong  the  prlsoi«er8»>  that 
the  very  school  boys  in  the  str^^ts>  kneiv  the 
mental  design  of  it  ki  some  measure  f  at 
leiistv  they  Jcnevr  that  they  w^re  starved  tb 
death.  Some  poor  wotnen  dbntribb  ted  tb 
their  necessity,  till  their  children  tvere  al» 
most  stat-ved,  and  all  persons  of  comihen 

uhderstanding  knew  that  they  IV^fe  ^vdied 
to  the  cnielest  and  worst  of  deaths.  It  lvtt& 
also  proposed  by  some  tb  make  a  written  re- 
presentation of  the  cbndition  of  the  sokii^fj^, 
and  the  officers  to  sigin  it,  and  that  it  shbbM 
be  couched  in  such  terms,  asthbugh  the^ 
w&t  apprehensive  that  the  general  was  ii!ft- 
posed  Upon  bjr  bis  bflkel^y  in  their  daily  re- 


(   * 


/' 


\ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


■^^■2.8     |2.5 


1.25  III  1.4 


III 


1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


7' 


^ 


/- 


c  ^° 


{/. 


%o 


SJ 


:\ 


\ 


\ 


^V^     >VV    WnS 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4S03 


.<i.' 


^ 


>^  .  ^ 


% 


»♦-**»•*--  »t- 


1    ' 


.1 


1 


,i 


di 


i  tAllTAftliKtlVl  Of 


^^  I 


tkmm&t^Mt^ie^itKitM^  md  esiiditioitof  the 

g«Aifnili>%Mg^ifere4  fabo^^  iki^  fot||  laiich.  ibe 
Wttfticonjectyred  that^g^i/IkriV4»^»  iailigpg^ 

wtud^tflu  andoot!  the  offiiiersirHo  made  the 
litu^  f)iEtim»r 'tti^  ^lesdrvitkn 

iMrbt  writing  ^  ias^nhp  iht cmti4eifa^im^mtiti 
m^w^  putposuht^i. tibe  Stressed  wcmlSflie 

rl  nwdesevefttl  rou|^  dirafttf  dathe  «u|j^ 
I  one  of  whidi  I  ^exhiiiltiBd  t<»  Ihe  c^li;  Magairi 
§dilmi  9lid  Adetv  a?id  libf)P>«iid^ifitillM^  iirMd 
^siibi^/^  matUsT:^  todn  tftei-  Si^ddlod  W^ 
tfaffm^  «iii^9Qinfr<>f  Ibetgi^tlenioiiihfoniied^i^^ 
that  ^ey  h|4;  written  to  thejge^.  pn  the  «id>* 


}iitm> 


COL.  E.  Allen's  captivitt. 


9S 


ject)  and  I  concltidedthat  the  gendemen  thougiiit 
it  bestdiat  di€^  iteld^#^  ii 

theit  wks  BUbh  st^i^fi^^Tl^il^^ii]^ 
tween  ^  Witli^itidPnlc^*  '  ^  i  v  %. 

ew  |«ris6iier;  laAd  biHIIi^ht^  M«^^ 

ga^e  out^hat  tlK  e6uiltr!fr  4i^riiiiirtl^nifl^^ 

ity,  aniifieit  t)^t«  iirofiili  be  VkU  or  no  m^e 
oppdiiitidn'toOfe^&haiiii:  Tiu8«t  irstlgave 
the  officers  a  Hktte^Miekv  but  in»  fewidajift  di^ 
retoveitd  thc^mjeWeSi;  forrtMft  tiA.  Hufiiecli# 
er^  bett^  &  Gersiaii)  iras  leialing^^  intli  g^ 

De  Heister,  hb^ouiiltF3fipii%iu)d  fiioiii^his  ooii>^ 
iluct  they^ '  were  a^rehenslv^  Iha^i  jhe  1199 ,  f 
kmive,   at  least he^ iiraSf esteemed s^ \>yM^ 
of  t^e  o%ersf|  it  waf  oei^^qrthel^^  a  dlis^.  ^ 
lroi^i))|e.    The  enemy  blasphem^<}»    Our  Uttl^ 
army  was  retreating  in  New-'Jersey,  and  p^ 
young  men  murdered  by  hundreds  in  £G|%f 
York. ;  Thearmyof  Bri^in  and  I)esl^Und|i% 
Vfiiled  for  a  little  season,  as 'though  it  W|t  li^ 
dered  by  heaven  to  shew,  to  the  latest  posterity, 
what  the  British,  would  have  ^one  if  they  could 


[C 


)  ; 


).        i 


'.    1 


M 


VW^ 


r«i«!* 


94 


A    KARK-ATIVB   OF 


s 


and  wiiat  the  gpi»^C8li|iiut7  must  bav^  been 
in  oooa^^imcb  (rf  the#  icoAqu^^  cpnn. 
tiy^  m^ih€i$eitt  ev^r  lloi^  man  to  stand 
ftttli*in  ^  defence  of  liberty  ^i^ib  ektabUsfi 
^nldependenefof  die  United  Staler  of  i^i^er. 
Hia4bff¥er -^  9irt  tMi^  sotfnec^  adVet^^rtune 
4iid^iiot.^ao90li§er  a^  WMihig^ :  Hie'  iBus* 
tiioa»  Anieri^aii^  hefo^i^inaiiieif  hilnioveai^ 
In  Hberty Vemu|B^ie  took  i^  hia  smmei :  This 
reif^^tion  watf  m»:  Jt>f^ort  tmd  con^o^M^^  in 
llie  dtf  of  hniiSil^imKt  #hen  he  retiwe^^j^^ 
§arbibsiMBnty^iSa^  into'^ena- 

i^l^i^mift.  Their  triumph  onlf  rotisttd  his  in^ 
d%itilbii  r  find  the  inipofiairt^  cau^e  ef  his 
^m^tfi  ifi^ilh  1^  iiettr  hii  heai<i,  m^eilhlm 
lo  t^R»i  thi(  l)eHtl*#^  m&tad  ali^ 

liitiiifiRition  onMs{Hir^  No  nkioner  had 
lib  clhtumvaiyed'hhiliing:%  kitUi  arid  spptstT' 
ad  ih^Hble  i^aiy,  biit  di^  ^Mse  of  He^itond 
%.  Thfe  Iftaght  AmcfrieJl  dit  iwe-i^fe  wo^th 
of  pers^ei^Anib^,  atnd  thegerierous  mm  of  ftee- 
Mfttiit^^  to  •  die  standard  of  their  common 
Mbgtiard  attd  defence ;  from  which  tiiife  die 
Wt^  of  Amteriikt  libeity  Kadi  j^vaiied. 


'■I 


COL.  £.  Al^Eir's   CAPTIVITY. 


9$ 


'.  b«eh 
conn, 
stand 

» 

sbUs(i 
ortaae 

:  This 
^k>ci  in 

his  in* 

eiibfm 

er '  kftd 

!^nd 
wofth 
>f  f««e^ 
>mnton 

itie  ^ 


This  surpiizb  Und  capture  of  ^  {f^Misns 
em^  tbt  ^letny,  who  iveres^  vasllyr  more 
h^merouB  than  the  continental  Irqopa :  Tho^ 
therrfoit  cdllected,  an4  mafched  fmm'FHiice^ 
town,  fo  attack  gen. 'Washington,  wliowftS 
ifi^n'atlVenton,  having,  preykwaly  left  a  de- 
tf^^hmeiit  froni  their  main  body  at  Frineetown^ 
foi^'lhe  sKi)^^bf  diatcplaoe*    This  wasatryf; 
nig  time,  f<N'  our  wMhy  general,  ^oBgh  in 
ffdsse^sion  of  a  late  moat  astdnifllwi|^  vktpiy^ 
was  hf  no' means  able  to  withstand  the  collect-, 
iv^  folce  of  th^  ^hemy;  but  his  sagacky  soon 
siigieilfcSd  a  straCagem  tOHefieci-that  whteh,  by 
!bh;e,totiim  wm  at  that  time  impracticairfe  i 
Iteitherefore  amused  the  enemy  with  a  number 
of  fir^,  and  iti  the  night  made  a  forced  march, 
undiscovered  by  them,^  and  next  morning  fell  in 
whh  then*  rear  guard  at  Princetown^,  and  killed 
atid  tobkiAost  of  them  prisoners.    The  main 
bddy  too  liate  perceived  Aeir  rear  was  attacked) 
hurried  bikck  with  all  speedi  but  to  their  nibitU 
ficatioti,  i(xM  th^y  were  out^ncralfed,  aiid 
baffled  by  gch.  Wa^ingtoa,  who  was  retlped 
with  his  Ifede  army  towards  Moitistotim,  and 
was  out  of  their  power.    These  repeated  suc- 


ki 


■# 


^*».  -• 


I 


-1(1 

u 


1   '' 


I  / 


4 


I! 


i! 


96  A  Jf  AaHATlVE    OF 

c^saes,  onepn:the  l^ackof  the  olher,  chagnaed 
the  epemyr  procllgiousLy,.  and  had  an.  janiJAziqg 
qpfaratiofi  in  the  ^cale  of  American  politic^,  9fMi 
undoubtedly  wa9  one  of  the  corner  Moness  <¥^ 
ijidiich  their,  (air  stnicture  of  Indepcjidency 
ha«  been  fahif^c^^*  for  the  couKit^y  at  no 
one  tiine  has  ever  been  so  much  dispirited  as 
just  b|C^or^  the  mprnuig  of  this  glorious  siic- 
cess,  which  in  part  dispelled  the  gloomy  clouds 
ojf;  Oppression  and^liu^ery,  whichJay  pending 
pver  America,  big  with  the  ruin  of  this  and 
future  generations,  and  enlightened  and  spirit- 
ed her  sons  ,to  redouble  their  blows  on  a  mer- 
ciless,  and  haughty,  aiid,  I  may  add,  perfidious 
enemy.  -  ^    ■ 

Furthennore,  this  success  had  ajmighty  ef- 
fect on  gen.  Howe  an  I  his  council,  and  rous- 
ed them  to  a  sen;se  of  their  own  weakness,  and 
convinced  them  that  they  were  neither  omnis- 
cient nor  omnipotent.  Their  obduracy  i^tid 
de^th  designing  melevolence,  in  sotne  measure, 
abated  or  was  suspended.  The  prisonersi  who 
were  condemnecUto  the  most  wretched  and 
crudest  of  deaths,  and  who  survived  to  this  pe- 
riod, though  most  of  them  died  before,  were 


COL.  £.  ALl«£lf^8  CAPTIVITY. 


^ 


at  no 
itedas 
as  sues** 

clpu4s 
lending  ^ 

L  a  mer- 
r&dious 

'  -0  ■ '. 
ghtypf- 
id  rous- 
egs,  and 
•  omnls- 
racy  i^nd 
measure, 
jrsjwho 
ted  and 
thispe- 
:c,  were 


A 


iimiiediately  iM^ered  to  be  aent  within  gen. 
Wtt«ihiiigti6n*8^l(nev;fb#%h  exchange,  and,  iti 
dmakqv^tntii^tW^  #(el«  taken  oiH  of  theh-  filthy 
aiftipcMii^dyi8f^<»  of  confines  sent 

out  of  NeW-VoA  to  their  friehdiSi  in  haste  ;  se- 
veral of  €ieni  fell  dead  in  thie  streets  of  Nex^ 
York,  iw'  they* attempted  to  ti^nlk  to  ihe  vcs- 
sds  in  th^  ^harbor,  Ibr  their  intended  emhai^a- 
tish.  What  numbers  lived  to  reach  the  lines 
I  bannot  ascc^aln,  but,  firom  concmrent  ret>re- 
sefiltatlbns  Which  I  hai^  since  received  from 
wumisfert  bf  ^eb^e  who  lived  itt  atld  adji^eiit 
tb'^mch  parts  of  the^  countrj',  where  they  were 
recdived  from  the-  enemy,  I  apprehend  that 
ihoit  of  them  died  inconsequence  of  die  vile 
usageHof  the  enemy.  Some,  whb  were  eye- 
witnesses of  that  scene  of  mortalitv,  more  es- 
pecially  in  that  part  which  cdntihued  alkr  the 
exclitrtge  tcidk  place,  are  of  opinion,  that  it  was 
psirtly  in'  cbnsequenie.  bf  a  slow  poison  ;  but 
this!  t#fer  to  the  doctbrs^that  attended  thpm, 
who  are  dertiiffily  the  best  judges. 

Upon  the  best  calculation  I  have  been  able 
to  'thaike  from  personal  knowledge,  and  the 
many  eviderices  1  have  collected  in  support  of 


i 


"•t  . 


A  HAHf 4TXV1    OF 

the  facts,  I  kigi;  ^,  pf  ^jpprisciiers  taken 
on  Lpn^-Ulaa^  fc^  Wa^ngton,  and  aome 
rcii^^d|M:r8^^([Ufei«nt  times  9nd  places,  about 
t^o  j^onsund  nerished  with  bnng;^,  cold  sM 
sickk)e$8y.5>ccaaJoned  by  the  filth  of  the  prisons, 
at  $rew^yorl^  and  a  number  more  on  Uieir  pas- 
sage to  the  continental  lines ;  most  of  the  re^. 
due,  who  reached  their  friends,  having  reteiV- 
ed  their  death  wound,  could  not  be  restored  by 
the  assistance  of  physicians  and  friends;  but, 
like  their  brotiier  prisoners,  fell  a  sacrifiee  to^ 
relentless  and  scientific  barbarity  of  Bntab.  I 
took  as  much  pains  as  my  circumstances  would 
admit  of,  to  inform  myself  not  only  of  mirtters 
of  fect^  but  likewise  of  the  very  design  ^pd 
aims  of  gen.  Howe  and  his  council:  The.  lat- 
ter of  which  I  predicated  on  the  former,  and 
submit  it  to  the  candid  public. 

And  lastly,  the  aforesaid  success  of  the  A- 
merican  arms  had  a  happy  effect  on  the  con- 
tinentSil  officers,  wIk)  were  oh  parole  at  New 
York  :  A  number  of  us  assembled,  but  not  in 
a  public  manner,  and,  with  full  bowls  and  glas- 
xeSj  drank  gen.  Washington's  healthj  and  #ere 
net  unmindful  of  Congress  and  our.  wortl^y 


COL.  S.  ALLtir'i  €Af  TIVITY. 


99 


{ek&ison  tKe  continent,  md idmopt  forgot  thtit 
we  were  prt9b]>^ 

A  femdajs  afitr  this  itcreation,  a  DHtish 
pftcer  oir  r^itk  and  importancx*  ih  their  army, 
whose  name  I  tAtsiXL  not  iKieittion  itithis  narra- 
tive, for  certain  reasons,  though  I  have  men- 
tioned it  to  some  of  my  close  friends  and  con* 
fidants,  sent  for  me  to  his  lodgings,  and  told 
me,  "  That  faithfulness,  though  in  a  wrong 
cause,  had  nevertheless  feeommended  me  to 
gen.  Sir  William  Howe,  who  was  minded  to 
makeine  a  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  new  levies, 
dias  tones,  in  the  British  service ;  and  propos- 
ed that  I  ^uld  go  with  him^  and  some  other 
officers,  to .  Sngland,^  who  would  embark  for 
that  purpose  ki^  few  days,'  and  there  be  intro- 
duced to  Lord  G.  detmsin^,  and  probably  to 
the  king;  and,  that  pt^v^^ously  I  should  be 
Uothed  equal  to  such  an  ititroduction,  and,  in- 
stead of  paperirags,  b^  paid  in  hard  gumesto ; 
after  tikis  should  embark  with  gen.<  Bur goync^i 
and  assist  in  the  reduction  ef  tho  cbuniif , 
whidh  infi^ibly  would  be  conquered^  and, 
when  that  should  be  dcitn^,  I  shouUI  Havea 
large  tniet  of  land,  cither  in  the  Neiv-Hamp- 


\] 


Vv, 


ipo 


▲    NARRATIYZ    or 


shire  grants,  or  in  Connecticut,  it  would^  make 
no  odds,  as  the  country  would  be  fi^rfeited  to 
the  crw^."  ,  I  then  rtstdicd,  "  Hiat,  it  hy 
fdthltilness  I  had  recommefided  tnysdf  to  g<^i 
Howe,  I  should  he  loth,  by  itofkithfiilnessj  to 
lose  the  genml's  good  ppinion ;  bcMde^,  that 
I  viewed  the  bflfer  of  lai^d  to  be  similar  to  that 
which  the  devil  oficred  Jesus  Christ,  "Tog^e 
Jiim  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,if  he  would  fall 
down  and  worship  him;'*  when  at  the  sam^ 
time,  that  the  damned  soul  had  not  one  foot  oi 
land  upon  earth."  This  closed  the  conversa- 
tion, and  the  gendeman  turned  from  4ne  wtth 
an  air  of  dislike,  flaying,  that  I  wfes  a  bigot  j 
upon  which  I  rcdred  to  vfky  lo<^ftg» 

Near  the  last  of  Norembbr  I  wasi  adnntted 
to  parole  in  New- York,  widi  matoy  other  lAm^^ 
ri^an  oflicers,  on  the  22d  day^  of  January,  17ff7i 
was'withtheni  directed  hf  the  Britt&h  comtnist 
saiy  0f  pritoners  tbibe  qiiattered  on  t^e  w^er^ 
^r  port  of  Long-Ibland,  and  oul;  parole ;  ^miihp 
Ued.  Duriitg  my  imprisonment  lUere;  no'ecn 
QtirrenCes  wor4ih  obsdr vatton  hashed!  I  bb# 
tatned  the  m^anil  of  living  as  welias  I  desir^, 
whicb  in  a  great  measure  repaufed  my  consti^ 


^. 


cot.  t*  Aiteir  t  cAvrivitr. 


101 


ttttiom  wllick  hid  been  gKaltyin|iirec|i^  the 
•everitlMflCaniiiliuiiiAnjcaptiiiity.  d  aumrliei. 
gMi  tfi.  fe«k  mywt\£.  compopied, '  txpectng'i^- 
tlier  im  coDbhaoge,  ^or  cQatanuafied  liigoodf  mid 
honorable  treatment;  but  alas!  my  y'hSmmf^ 
topectatkinia  waan  Vain^d.  The  newrcifl^e 
odmi^en  of  Tiodndefoga  b^  gm.  Bvrgc^iw^ 
|M tlfeadvance  9£lib  arm|r into ^  amullf^f!^ 
nadc  ^.  haugb^  firiioi\Si  again  to:  leel  6i6ir 
iaapmianee»  and  with.tfiat  thdr  insatM|bk  thkil 
'l^ioriwl^*      ....  J :. .";  :.!3slw,'>?asfef 

Th(e  pny^  pii^^i9.Al  .NewriYorHi  and 
^ijie  of  %  .ofl|<»^  on  p^e,  f$l|  t^  ^e^filf 
ofU.  9iirgp|ii^  W09.  to  >tand  Ibair  dsy^ 

placed  t)^  ogof^^l^^s^^  'f  *i|4  feigpt^tti^  liWdi, 

and  relying  oft^c»iiga  and  mmilessitimrjidbtsit 
ai)4  wid^tl^  IQ^k^Jji$tcu|»|NoQd9b(Bdalld 
d^s|ruc{|is>n  »f  their  ,i^»iry,.  *?•  beeamftftph^'? 
^]pec|i^  9i^h  :^Mto.^id^  mM^oMniihiliim 
QonfiUQat^  estates  of  iheb  !l1eMbo■ia^>ahd 

12 


\ 


A  VAllAriTS^atfl  .10  > 


"^t-' 


cotiy Jt»ieii/ii<iwBflii^iii  tot  inB^iPiiMe  coimtiyj^ 
and  ^  religlmi  Old  ^bof^cs  thovcofiJ^^ii^ 
mTlfodbie  fiqd  g^ye^teiiiiXfertattftMig  ik- 
|il«ioliSi  loctsdky^ft  liti  that  tlpey^ JttAifht  iMl 

l^flMlieL^Slli  dttjtof  Augttsl  I  wm  appidiciidcd 

^d^^jfiider  j^wt^t  of  artfttf,  nfeto  andfiMfiil 

Iprteneesv  liurt'  I  liad  infiiiiged  on' nfriptioli^ 

tidito  ffoin-  a  tavern^  nirhm  >thei«  Hv«ia  aaoi« 

i^Mi;  1^  ^toeniofficci^  piU^eni  and  m  the  verjr 

place  where  tfaose  officers  and  myse^  weie  41- 

IWBie^  to  ibe  ^faattered^^m  jMiei^  i  atyong 

g«ii^  and  adien  to^New^Y^k^  where  I  ^x- 

^ttHjf/^m  mi^e  n^  deiince  befdre  tlie  comt- 

man^ag^officeff';  b^t  oontirary  to  mj  exfiecla^ 

^dm^  I«mI  H^tfaoiit^lli^  IMak'if^  ptetenoe  of 

j^f(k«>«r^«iai;'%^  agaM  en^l^  with^a 

mmt4^ML  #lilili^bBfottets,  and  dcMduct' 

€4^16  iMcM^flo^'^gaQ)  >  In  a  kxieljf'  iqpartittetit, 

iWMCtiifciio^  dia  ^dw^seoiiy  and  wai  deflied  aitt 

nnttner  oi^siibsiileaoe  eidier  byftorchase  or 

^#afy^t  tie  aeixMiid^  I  ofered  a^giti- 

iieiiollr^afilioalof  ykioi^  but  waa^  deaiedtat, 

aia^dikr4liBd4afr  i  oSenM  mghl  S|Miftiah  mm- 

edjddia!!9  J^  a  like  iayot>  but  was  dei^dt^  and 


COL.  S.  ALttlfV CAPTIVITY.  i^ 

aft  ihtt  I  could  ^ei  but  of  Ihe  aeijeaAt't  noi^ 
wtt  Mib,  by  God  lie  woilld  obey  hb  iMerv:  i 
liibliripcrcdved  ttiysdf  to  be  ftgaiii  m  gMlMi^ 
tiil  trouble;^  la  this  condidon.!  form^iti  oiK 
liqae  abqdtdiitance  with  a  capt  Travb,joif  f^^- 
(^,  iii^  Was-  inr  this  dungeon  beknv'tti^l 
diHA^  aKtde  hole^whidi  waaicut^  w^a  |^s. 
jkniib,  through 'die  floor  of  my  apartment  >l^hich 
^^e^ntrnj^eikeid^  wit^  it  watca 

^al^  crevice,  thiroagb  vlu^  I  coi^  disedii 
^  a  veif  s^all  part  "df  Mi  fice  atonce,  i<f^ 
heapplkditto  the  hole^;  Imt  from  the  dia^ 
eiyof  him  in  iht  ai^atidn  whicli  we  w^ 
tfodi  theii  in,  I  could  not  have  known  Inio, 
ll^eh  I  fbuiid  to.be  true  by  an  after  acqiiiuii^ 
tanct.  I  could  nevertheless  hold  a  con^Vem- 
^  witfe ikitn,  and^bon  ^rcetved  tM  tii  iel 
gentleman  of  high  sphib,  who  had  a  hith  sei^ 
o^ll^or^aDd  leh  as  bigvas  thoiig^he  had  li^ 
In  a  paiac^  andhadtreasutesof  ^th  in  iki^ 
agaiiiilt  the  Britidi.  In  fine  i  wi^  cUi^d 
wifli  the  spirit  of  the  ihan;  he  had  been  ^ear 
or  quite  four  months  in  that '  duiigeidili  #ith 
murdoers/ thieves,  and  ev^iy'ap^kiel  6f  cnm- 
balsi  a!^  all  for  the  Bole  cf iitie  of  unshaken 


^■'m 


1    V 


)  t 


\  ( 


^l{ 


t1 


r-H 


A  ^ARjaATiAE  or  ^  H 

U^|e4ri>ftili9t|s,f|f  the  ^jSbers  i|^  t}^  prpvis^ 
sj^  oCJ#^<^  to  Oie^^itwntsj^ClJij^filij 


hi  dg;*^':!^;-  ,j$iii4 


^djt  9^ipe  l9lpas%iQn  1?^  t^^ J^ 

?|^ailowa»ce,^rKi  I  fefJ  s^tjy  pii^  {santic^ 
but  J[  TOfluiged  my^3^tit^by^degre!?s,|i^^^^ 
a  few  days  more,  .w£^  taken  fr^pm  itmt  upagL 
iQ^nt.  and  conducted  ^  the  nej^t  loftor  story. 
1^1^  there  were  abpv^  twend^r  ctj^^^fita^,  ^ 
^me  militia  <)fficers/who  had  been  t9ken>  and 
iil^|Mrii50i)ed  there,  besides  some  private  gj^n^* 
m^n,  who  had  beeii  dragge4  Irom  t|if  ^  tiyn 
hpjpe^  to  tlu^t  ^th)?  pifice,  by  torie$.  ^ven|) 
of  every  denomination  mentioned  diejdj  they^ 
$<^t||e  before,  and  ot|iei^  ^ter  I  >v.iis  put  there* 
The  history  of  the  proceedings  relative  t^ 
the  provoal  only,  were  |  particular,,  would 


i 


COL  s.  axlen's  caftivity. 


loa 


s«^  a  vblttsie  largii'  thiui^lto  whole  nuaai^ 

di^i^B^s  ii4i^  an^  moki«xttii(iir<liiifttry«  4 
C^^>  VawljMe  bbve^  vith^  an  uhcomiiiqii 
fEKtitude,  Bear  t\«^i#  months'  cohfinemetlt  k 
this  jpkUsty  aitd'in'  ihe  tnean  time  was  very  ser^ 
viceal^'  toothers  whowere  confined  with  htiri* 
The  si^ega$ioifi  agiunsthim  as  theoatUse  of  his 
eohfiheihent  was  yety  iextrabrdinary  :  H^  wai 
accused  of  seeing  fire  to  thddit^  of  B7ew-Yofk> 
at^'ttirne  the  west  part  of>it  Was  ieonrotiwedt 
Wheti  h  was  a  knowii  il^t  Ihat  he  had  beegiifi 
provost  a  week  before  thefire  broke oui^  ai^ 
i%  Me  maimert  ^ivokius  were  the  oiCeni»blc 
acoasation;t(  against  iiiOs^  of  those  wl|o  w^re 
thei^  confined;  the rcase  pf  twamiUtiftjafficci^s 
oxcepted,  who  wiere  taken  io  th<^r  attemptli^ 
to  eaeajpe  fipnt  their  pai-ole ;  n  and  iirobably 
th^  thay  be  some  other  insianceswhich  itiight 
justiiy  suchia  doiifinemo^j     :  >  j 

:  Mr«>Williaiii  Miller,  a  committee  man  from 
WesiCh^ter  oount^,  and 'state  of  New»York^ 
was  taken  from  his  bed  in  the  dead  of  nighty 
by  his  tory  nejl^hors,  aiid  was  Btarved  for 
three  days  as|d  nights  in  an  apartment  of  t|^ 


r^- 


'%' 


I   .1 


).  !. 

M 


/ '} 


u. 


\  s 


he  iidUifd  ^  iildanlglit,  tx^i<tefc»d  itself 
agaiuBt  Ui£  &o»^  iipd  wJhirn  he  €on^lm^  of 
such  a  ireprehen^ible  e^ndufit,  the.  w^ord  tthd  or 
Q^miiiHtee-jpaai&i^a9;dtiin^^y4ie6nefl^  suf- 
ficient atonement  fcr.ARy  iohumaoity  Uiat  they- 
QOlild  inyent  pr  inflict.,  He  was  a  msin,  9I  a 
goodvniityral,  understanding,  a  close  apdsinc^fQ 
jTfief^  to  Uie  lib^itle$of  Ainerifa,andendnr^ 
fouifteen  months' cruel  imprisonment  wit^^^t 
niagnanimity  of  s^rwhich  reflectj^  honor  on 
Ipasclf  ^  countEi'*  :  .  c>  , 
40^|li|f^or4^«vi  Wells,  and  ^8{>t,Qzias;^ssd^ 
l^re  s^prehended  and  taken  under  gyard  from 
thdF!p(irole  on  Long  Island,  to  ^hej^avosly  oh 
919  fallacious  pretence»  as  the  former,  and  were 
th^re  continued  till  their  eKchsnge  took  place, 
which  W4S  near  five  months.  rTheir.fidteii.ty 
and  zealous  attachment  to  their  countty^s 
OKQse,  which  was  more  than  commonly  con&j^l- 
C^oiifl  was  undoubtedly  the  real  cause  iftttheil' 
cohfinCinentr  .mm 

>M9Jor  Brinton  Payne,  capt  Fiahaveav  ^d 
<M^.  Randolph)  who  had  at  dife«nt  times  ^^ 


COL.   E.  ALtlM's  CAFTIVITY.         107 


sift»^ 


:6^« 


tinguished  teanelvds  by  their  taiyer^^^apeei^: 
alfy  at  the  sevoid  action,  in  whifch  they  wei# 
taken^  were  ail  the  provooatkm  liiey  guve,  for 
y'hkh  they  sufieredaboul  a  year'ff  boi^neinai^ 
caQh  in  the  same  Mttty  gaiolw       '    »  jii^?i»^'  ^^^^^  ^ 

A  few  wedES  after  m  j  oonfinenteni^  'en^  the 
Uke  fallacious  and  Wiekedfpretencesy  was 
brought  ti»  the  same  place,  from  hts  parole  <mI 
Long  I^nd,  major  Otho  Holland  Wifliaais^ 
now  a  full  col.  in  the  continental  armv.  In  his 
chiuacter  are  united  the  gentleman,  officer,  sol- 
diery and  friend  ;  he  walked  through  the  pris^ 
on  with  an  air  of  great  disdain  ;  said  he,  **  Is 
this  the  treatment  which  gehtiemen  of  the  con- 
tinents^ army  are  to  expect  fipom  the  rascally 
British^  when  in  their  power?  Heavens  forbid 
it !"  He  was  continued  there  about  five  mlonthsv 
and  then  exchanged  for  a  British  m^or.  <      '4 

John  Fell  Esq.  now  a  member  of  congress 
for  the  state  of  New-Jersey,  \?as  taken  from  his 
own  house  by  a  gang  of  infamous  tories,  and 
by  order  of  a  British  gen.  was  sent  to  the  pro- 
vost, where  he  continued  near  one  year.  The 
stench  f  the  gaol,  which  was  very  loathsome 
and  unheakhyyoccasioned  a  hoarseness  of  the 


m$ 


I  AHARE^tl^B  Of 


^1.' 


dKre  am0riie(i;7 /and>«4aGed>t^ 
neartOil^epiC«nto£deaitlii;^  heMWis  indeje^igw? 
en  i  mfet'  %  his  friends  whoi  wa^*  aboiit  ihm 
and  himself  concloikd  ht  must  die«  l^^pduid 
not  eisdutie^tlie^Hiitght  ^t  sa  «^iE>ithy'|(ijRriend 
iXj^'Anveriea^iiiildl  Iiive4iis4ff6  stolen  #cttiifiitia 
ffi^such  d  mcanf^  li^s^e^  atid^  soindalous  nuaMi^ 
and  ihiA .  hh  i^taSiy  <and  friends  should  bp  be<^ 
reaycuLl  of  so  grga^  and  desirabSe  a  blessings  as 
his  fartlierear^,  ugehilness  ajfid  exaniple^  m%ht 
|)pi^  ti>  iihenI^u  X  therefore  wrote  ^  letter  l# 
gtn.  BebelrtsQTi)  who  comimandedin  town^  nhd 
being  touched  with  the  most^eflsible  feelings 
of  humanity,'  which  di etated  iny  pen  to  paints 
dying  distress  in  sudh  Kveiy  eolors  that  it 
wrought  conviction  <^n  the  obduracy  -  of  a  ^Brit- 
ish general,  and  produced  his  order  to  remove 
tiie  now  honorable  John  Fell,  esq;  out  of  a  gaol, 
to  private  lodgings  in  town ;  in  xibnsequence^ 
of  which  he  «lowfy  recovered  his  health.  There* 
is  so  extraordinary  acircurastance  Which  inter* 

vaied  concerning  this  letter^  that  it  is  worth 


COL  S.  jKLfiltlr's  CAPTIVITY. 


m 


I^Henpfoortd  aen^nf  iti  I  titMBitM  the  same 
liNlie  gdltlCfittAft  cif'  #BiMe  behalf  it  nf^swrlc^ 
ten,  ^  l^i  i|>pr6batidiiv  iM  be^f<ii^^ 
sand  It  in  ^  lAost  {KMilii^  and  ei^i^kitfi^^s ; 
ki8  i%yQin  wtt'8  "That  the  efietny  knew,  by*  cve- 
^  molriiiiig's  repoirt,  ^e  c6iii(fiti6rt©flaHty  pri* 
sbntitt,  fniile  in  pairtieiilar,  as  I  ^ve  been  ^- 
dtifi))5»cdiilk^'t6  my  end  for  a  con^dierable 
time;^  and^M^  TCfy  \^knewH  and  Hk^wi&e 
<fetertiiifi6d  k  sihould  be  aeeamp^shed,  as  they 
hud  ^rved  many  others;  tii^rt,  to  a^k  rf^\*dr, 
W6\M  givfe  the  merciless  enemy  occasion  to 
triumph  6ver  me  in  my  lit^  momenti^^  and 
th^^sre  I  ^1  ask  ^o  favors  from  them,  but 
resign  myself  to  my  supposed  fate."  But  tlic 
letter  I  seitt  without  his  knowledge,  and  I  con- 
fess I  had  but  little  expectations  from  U,  yet 
could  not  be  easy  till  I  had  sent  it.  It  iniy  be 
worth  a  remark,  that  this  gentleman  was  an 
Englishman  bom,  and,  from  the  beginning  of 
the  revolution,  has  invariaUy  asserted,  and 
maintained  the  cause  of  liberty.         A*n 

The  British  have  made  so  extensive  an  im. 

provement  of  the  provost  during  the  present 

eevolution  till  of  late;  that  a  vtcy  short  defini. 
K 


no 


A  IIA&IATIVS   OM 


tion  wiU  b(B  fuftcient  Jqf  the,  itejjbit  tppfc* 
bensipaa.  It  mayJietwiMl  pfi^^m^F^Aid 
Uie  British  inqui#|tHiiir^n<l<HileiiUlMBd'^ 
8ii|»p0rt  ihekp^£yppr<HUttV9^t  iiMii«ii«e9  «ii4liief 
signs*  bjr  ftuppr?s4ingt)i«  ipir^tlifn^UaiiQ^H^^ 
as  alsior  ir  ^^^  i0>m^$m  ^  ^f  imifiiilsi  ^wnil 
most  iqfainoii^  wfet^s  ^.ijheir  ^^  ,IMnilj^ 
where  aaftny  gentlemen  4>f  the  AaMrlcaii  lyr? 
my^i  aa^'Gi^ens  ther  epi^  iiiar#  pri»iini«Q|i|i^iia- 
ly  pppifinedi  with  every  i^ei^es  of  carpMaals; 
I?ut  they  dividecl  intp  tjiliilfre^japai^milli, 
aii4  kieft at asgreat a reniove as circ^aialltii^ 
eet  permitted  j  hiitit  wi^neyerthelesa  at Jbe 
^fitiiHi  o^at^Hlii^iia  jserjeaiit,  iiha  haci  the 
'shfufge  /  of  the  j^pvgst^  t0  ^ tahe  any  g«i^«- 
m^  iroiti  their  room,  and  jiui  them  Into 
'i^  (^UQgeon,  ;  whieh  was  oflbcn  th^  ibase: 
^t  tvyp  4iflref  ent ,  times  I  was  taken  damn 
j^tair^  fox  I  that  purpose,  by  a  file  of  soldiora 
jidth4,xt4;ba)^pniets,  and  the^aeijeapt  brand- 
ishing his  aword  at  the,  ^ame  time,  «id  hav- 
ing been  brought  tpfbedopr  of  th^dungeoo, 
I  :tbere,vflaf|erf^'!Ae  yai^ity  of  iho  seijeaat, 
jfhose  nama  tw#a  Ki^li  by  which  m^^i^  I 
pr^dciired  Aie,  siurprizl^g  fayor  ^|o  retuni  tb 


r\ 


COL.  B«  ALLKlkV-CATTITITy*  111 

iOii^ydtiif'  gtntStmen  td^  bevt  Mk' 

Misbldlicf »' '  attd  dfet^rof tned^  td  ie6|^  «t  'a  ^H- 

litov  bttt  fidn«^^oirid  kerp  clear  of  his  atni«e; 

litfwc^r  ttlild  measuren  were  th^  best  r  he 

'4i<t'tioe  htfsiutr  to  calf  us  damned  rebehi; 

ikitltie^iii^wiUi^he  <^oarse&^  l*h« 

taptM.  FliilMftveff^'RakidoIph  aiid'Mi^retr,  wttt 

th^lok^^tkof^his  m&^  flagraAt  aitditpeiUid 

dto^,'  vhtl  ivm  manjr  tiftie^  tifc^ti  io^thl 

^tiigitmtknd  thertf  conthixied  at  his:fiiei. 

mt^i    Gttpti  Ffahaven  tc^  cddl^tMs  dtt^- 

^jg^tfh^  aiid^'#as  hv  a  decMIMg  iitktt  of  heaM, 

Mr  iiir  tkcliiilrtse*  de^cred*  lihtr^^aiidlfia 

Hl^g^to  b^r  #Sth  ^bkhA^6ki^  dfnif^ii 
fiefotril'liM  mhrtAiithpeti6u%p^t^\i  1k^ 
M^ntstTMCti  ag^hat'hffnr-were'j^reftbrred'to 
the^  e^iiiniiiAdet  of  tine  towtt.  birt  htt  rtWef 
^uldbe  diltidned,  iot'hif  tttjiertors^v^re^it- 
doubtetR^  ^ett  fAeasbd  wtth  faiii  itbusive  ibdn« 
di6et'ft>  the  getottetthdh,  uhd6i'  the  ajfeverities 
dTtlia  fdti^ek' ;  and  i^Mbftif rating  igainat  his 
'4itiSH(*^  e<mdy^t,  only  served  to  confirm' him 


112 


A    NARRATIVE    OF 


in  authority ;  an<J  ^  for  this  r^a^on  I  ncv^r 
^ade  ai^  rempostranceson  ^p  subject,  J)|it 
only  fttrpaked  ilim.  for  I  knew  t^at  lie  wfa 
l^t  a  cat's  paw  in  the  hands  of  the  Sriash 
bScers,  and  that,  if  he  should  use  iis  w^Il', 
he  would  immediately  be  put  put  of  that 
trusty  and  a  worse  man  appointed  to  succfi^d 
hiih ;  but  there  was  no  need  of  nuking  anji 
new  appoinunent  i  lor  Cunningham,  theJi 
prov|C^st  i|iarshaU  and  Keef;  his  deputy,;  wcr? 
aigreaf  rascals  a^^heir  aroiy  could  b(iast<^ 

^j?^P*^*J®*hM^Jl^""IE»  «»^  »niamou8^ry, 
who  was  Gommbsary  pf  prisoners ;  nor  ca^ 
*W  P^  the^^  be  supposed  to  be  equally  cringti. 
nal^l^^^i^  JSir  W^     Hoire  aiuthis^aa^ 

a(^tc8)  wto  prescribed  and  directed:  |he 
fik%0i^SJf;^4  Cl'udtiics,  which  were  by  them 
J^^trat^d.  Thia  I^onng;ia  a  fli^crl-;: 
There  if  ROt  b|s  like  in  hi|n|aa  aWe.^  .  He 

^^^  *^  «wUng  coi^^  Ij^ 

wc^  a,  phis  of  h\innani^ '  but  Imis  been  jiv. 
atru  men^a||^C|Bpf|blepf  the  most  con^^ 
adts6f  wielednfss,  which  werf  firat  prcScct- 
(^by  an  aban^oMJBWftiah  cpiincil,  p Icitf^ 
with  ths:  authority  of  41 4  Howe,  mur4fpi|)g' 


>' — •*■-- 


COL.  X.  ALLlM't  CAPTIVITY.         113 

Plf|ftedil|ie41jri  in  qold  blood,  nfar  pr  ^yjlir 
)0lmAlu$mnd  helplctft.priii0oti!i»4afK)  ibiidii 
Iktiy  i»oit ;  claiictesdne^  ikiaiii  aofl  ibainelul 
llittiiie^^ at New^York;  He ii thenio^ m#n 
ji^iiyy^  cofrjuncijr,  deceitful*,  ttid  dettrnctiye 
iMiiufl  itivOod'8  creation  beloir,  and  legions 
lif^i^mal  devils/ with  all  their  tremendom 
iKnrrorli^'ai^  Impatiently  readf  to  receive 
Howe  and  Mini,  with  all  Iheir  dete»ti|ble  ac- 
oompHlbes;  into  the  thpst  exquisite  agonies 
ofthie  hottest  region  of  hell  fire.  '  / 

1the  amy  und^  his  coin  evacuatr. 

4iM!^i<niM^^^  the  msih 

i^  thi^gh  Hi^yt&^n  into  tiitto^^ 
mm  ^s  but  uzyiiKs  diii^^  when  His 
tear.guard)  eonimancfbd  by  col.  Seth  War* 

^^mti^a  ^it^  1^  thb^^»  ow- 
mtiS^%Y  ^^Ji^mtri" '  Wftraer^s  cbm- 
iiind  cdiii^K^eid  Wl|(l  ^n^  re- 

#ii[reiii!a(,  vil^.  ipyncis^amllEyia 
iia^iif  iMtf  lilfeebia  Mim:  Ills  whole 


|aiitf>itfeebia 

^^ir  Jcyt^lng  t(f  was  inear 

(j^ite  ti»Tfe%ousai^^    psirtbfWhi^  were 


■^*i 


\4 


11 


kJ 


"'-"■'-'■^■•*^-^' 


Ir. 


ou^  el  the  wliolelib  brougMiintdvotiMuI  ^  lln 
elMMijr'  adlviiGed^bsUl^t^  aftdl  tlii  umdHMk 
fdtMeidr  Withio;fib<ml<sixt}t^rifa^itf  eRchioilMf 
Col.  Wai^her  haiiiiig'  foibed  biiMowii  iC|^MiMi|i^ 

eii«fn9V  but  f^  ilvem] .  ar  heiii^  fite  i^^ 
ivliole  line^  ^  thejri.F^fiumed  14  wi^  greii 
bravery.  .  It  yyfisk  by :  this  time  dii^f ou& « f^ 
thos^  of  ba(h  parties,  who  wem, ;  nQt  pre|:p»i»4 
for  the  world  ,to^  qome  ;f  but  colon^L|ia^  j^i9€ 
affrisedpC  the  datiger,  nlTer  biot^t^^^re- 
gknent  to:  thc^.c^       but  Itft  W^gifif  ;i^ 

but  liK^k^y  feU  in  witl^^fka||if^r^j9idei^  xmofi- 
ber  of  the.  ene^y:,  ai^^  to  jbifi  etm^l  ah^iit, 

Tjhe  cfmfliqt;^,v|fy;i3^^ 
ejftv^ll  11^  Ai^,  sf^Il^  J^utCloL  liV^wniciiVvaii4r4lie 
!ri  ^n(^rhis  QqoM^  9i»f»^ji^ 

fyilMihaifed..^  i;  Tihp 

^)^ i  p t^  oii^^Wi ti^t^ Bfi^ ISi«bNI^ 


COL.  E.    A^tBll's  eAPriVtTY. 


lis 


nM  nHmstaifSie;  Oar  k^  ^ilnf«te«i  ti^ 
iiieii^ilM,  «ild^tfiifetor>tlw  fin  mj  iiuMimmjh)^ 
to^tiiipeei^iitidimi^ldlM,'  ite!tu^  M^ 
OniHtP-  Thir  ^tfin^r't^ss  1  leailit  fronrild 

fAnkf^  tliai:  the  Qltcn  M«Niiniaii^^ltdys(^)tied| 
a^r*  Tbe  i^xi  mOVfekent  df  tfiW  eltfeniv,  ^f 
ai^  inabenair  consequence,  w^  theii-  iriveat^ 
in^  BeiijfimgtVHi,  #ith  1 4esi^  to  dentdli^  ^| 
aii#sufojcct!  it^  MoBntaineeri,  to  whiclr  i^y 
hli^WigMest  avavMn,^^^^  oi^  Iliindii^ranA 
fi%  1ch08«n'1aie&i^  liM^d^  toitd^  witii  1^ 
hil^Mi  exj^ectetioift^of  gucfepsi^  and  hs»riiii|* 
c^dsiBik  iofc  emihnioe  c#  kixmg  froiM  fefllffi 
ed«]l  %irttii  iKght'U^t^^i^^  ple«^ 

cfliMniOKS!  bttt  die  goyiaulMiC  otf^tlie  yooi^ 

3ttdb  an  :««iiiiipC>  o^^^^        eii^liy^,  aii§  in^  Mfc 
tktitHM  pt«iciiM$i  a  nuiiiliiiti  6^^ 

Hanipattee;  wft<v  tigfeMto  ilto  tig tiiBeia'of 


i 


fi 


i 


I 


116 


A  NARftAttAE  Of 


/ 


^   i 


{\ 


ctf  Mttssudiiisett^,  aiWI'  iHe  Gteeti'  Monofftlfi 
Boys,  coiistittttwl  ja  bodyfttopgrxtoCB,  uMev 
the  (ioimnafid  of  tbe  intixflid  tte.  8)«t^  !«lM> 
in  ftiMiber  \«tie  abouidiuiiA  to  the  enen^^ 
CpL'  Hetikk^   w^o.  m  die  Greeii 

Mountain  Rangers,  and  who-inraa  seoOfid^H 
coQimand,  b^mglhomoghl)'^  acquainCbd  iridi 
the  uround  wheit  thd  emmf  had  fortified,  pr6^ 
pos^  to  'ftttaich  t|iet«l  in  then*  f^ofks  tipon  «ai 
pans,  at  the  satlne  tiilie.  This  plan  b^iiig 
adopted  by  the<  General  and  his  cbiihcH  of  ivar, 
tlk  little  militia  brigade  cX  undtisciplin^  he^ 
roJsi^' With  iheir  long  brown  firddcks,  the  best 
Purity  of  i  free  pieople,  without  either  dati- 
Aon  Or  bayonets^  w^j*'Ofi  the  Idth  day  of  AW^ 
gust,  led  on  to  the  attack  by  dieir  bold  com- 
manders, in  facet>f  diii  enemy's  dreadftil  fim, 
and  to  iheti^onishmentbf  the  worid,  and  hnn 
lesque  of  diacipUnef  carried  eyeiy  ^art  of ihdir 
lines  in  Mss  than  one  quarter  of  an  hour  after 
the  attaek  became  general,  took  their  caiitiiogi^ 
k^led  and  captivated  more  than-  two  ifalMs  of 
iheir  number,  which  immortalned  Gen.  Stark; 
andm»deBe<iuli>gtoB:ftiil0U8tay^tdityl 
^  yAttoBg  die  eneitijff^'slain'^w^  "^^tod'Cdl; 


U 


^  .- 


cot.  1.  4LLlN*t  CAf  TIVITr.         117 

Baiim»  their  comnuuider,  a  Col^  Pfetter^  who 
headed  an  iniamous  gang  of  toriea,  and  a  krgt 
part  of>  his  command  ;  and  among  the  prismi^ 
era  was  Major  Meibome,  their  second  in 
command,  a  number  of  British  and  Hessian 
officers,  surigeonsr&c.  and  more  than  one  hun^ 
dred  of  the  aforementioned  Pfiester's  com- 
mand. The  prisoners  being  collected  tc^th- 
cr,    were  sent   to  the  meeting-house  in  the 

town,  bjr  a  strong  .guard,  and  General  Stark 
not  iniagining  any  present  danger,  the  militia 
9C»jttered  from  him  to  rest  and  refresh  them- 
selyes  -»  in  this  ^tuat|on,hi^  waa  oi^  a  sudden 
a|tacke4  hy  a  reinforcement  of  (Hie  thousand 
atud  oi^e  hi<p4rfsd  of  the  ei^m}%  commanded 
by  a  Qpy?  ^kene,  ifith  two  field jneces  i-rr 
They  advja^Q^d  jn  regular  order,  and  kept  up 
au.  incessaitf  fire,  especially  from  their  «iekl 
]^I^Qps,  aud  the  rcmjwriing  ririlitift  retreating 
slQiyly,  before  theqp^  the|jro^Jid  in<^  . 

by  inch.  The.  enemy  w.^rc^qiri  to  h^llpo 
tp  them^  saying^  Stop  yank^es^i  Ijpi  the  me^9 
ti^C:;  Cot  ,W^pr,j(ti^  9&0Mf  ope  hu^dr^ 
and  ^>|^  men  p{  |4^  pgjmenj^  li^rt  nqt 
in  the  $rst  action;  aniyedaiM^  attacked  the 


\i, 


i 


^> 


m 


A  VArllATITB/  OF 


,y 


^nemy  wi^. great  fury,  bem^  detefttiiiiedto 
have  ample  revenge  on  aecotmt  of  the  qoterel 

at  Hubbutlton,  which  btx)Ugiit^hem  to^astanc^ 
and  soon  after  Gen^  Stark  and  Col.  HeiTick| 

brou^t  on  more  of  die  scattered  militiff»  and 
the  action  became  general ;  inr  a  few  minutles 
the  enemy  were  forced  fixMn  their  camion,  ^te 
way  on  all  ptrts  and  fled»  and  the  shouts  of 
victory  were  a  second  time  proclaimed  in  fa^ 
vor  of  the  militiaw    The  enemy's  loss  in  kitt- 
ed and  prisoners,  in  these  two  actions,  amblm^ 
ed  to  more  than  Onr  the tisand  and  tw6  hjiin* 
dred  men,  and  oin«  loss  did  not  exceed  fifty 
m&f^    Thi^wits  a  bitter  stroke  to  the  ^tiemy, 
but  their  pride  A^UldT  not  perttiit  theih  to  hi^. 
sitate  but  that  thfey  conttl  vanqufeh  the  coun- 
t3r*y,  and  as  a  specimen  of  their  arrogand}*  I 
shaii  insert  General  B'rtrgoyne'^  prbtJfamaiAon. 
"By  John  Bdrguoyrte  esq.  lieutcrta^nt gene- 
ral of  hi»  majesty's  armies  in  America,  colonel 
of  the^queen's  regiment  of  light  dragoons,  gov- 
ernor ot  fprt  WilKam,  in  North  Britain,  one  of 
the  represrentatiVes  of  the  commons  of  Gteat 
Brit&in  in  ptirliamefit,.and  commanding  an  ar* 


COL.  E.  ALIr£.N'S    OAFTlVITy. 


ii{> 


my  and  Aeet  ^mpkfed^Mian  expedition  from 
C#9§4a  lc€*  &c,  &c. 

<*  The;  .foRses  eBtmsfced  to  my  .ootnmand  are 
de3igfied  to  act  in  ooBccrt.itnd  upon  a  common 
pdnciple,  witbthe  numerous  armies  and  fleets 
which  ali^ady  display  in  every  quarter  of  A- 
merica,  the.  power,  tfae> justice,  and,  when  prop, 
ody  430ught^  the  mercy  of  the  king, 

*V  The  cause  in  which  the  British  amis  are 
thus  exertedy  applies  to  the  most  affecting  in- 
terests-of  the  human  heart ;  and  the  military 
servants,  of  the  crowns  at  first  called  forth  for 
tfic  sole  purpose  of  restoring  the  rights  of  the 
constitution,  now  combine  with  love  of  their 
co^ntryy  andduty  to  their  sovereign,  the  oth- 
ef^  e?ctcnsive  incitements  which  spring  from  a 
due  sense  of  the  general  privileges  of  mankind. 
To  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  temperate  part  of 
the  public,  and  to  the  hrea&ts  ofsufFering  thou- 
sands in  the  provinces  be  the  melancholy  ap* 
peal,  whetlier  the  present  unnatural  rebellion 
has  not  been  made  a  foundation  for  the  com- 
pletest  system  of  tyranny  that  ever  God  in  his 
displeasure,  suiFered  for  a  time  to  be  exercised 
over  a  froward  and  stubborn  generation. 


■i' 
t1 


1 


S\ 


:^ 


,'iJ 


120 


A  NARHATIVE    OF 


\ 


\  k 


< 


I  f 


ih 


y  ♦*  Arbitrary  imprisonment,  confiscation  of 
property,  persecution  and  torture,  unf  .^edcn- 
ted  in  the  inqubitioiu  of  the  Romish  church, 
are  among  the  palpable  enormities  that  verify 
the  affirmative.    These  are  inflicted  by  assem- 
blies and  committees,  who  dare  to  profess 
themselves  friends  to  liberty,  upon  the  most 
qtiiet  subjects,  without  distinction  of  ageor  sex» 
for  the  sole  crime,  often  for  the  sole  suspicion 
of  ^ving  adhered  in  principle   to  the  govern- 
ment under  which  they  were  bom,  and  to 
which,  by  every  tie,  divine  and  human,  they 
Qweallegiance.  Toconsumniate  these  shocking 
proceedings,  the  profanation  of  religion  is  add. 
ed  to  the  most  profligate  prostitution  of  com- 
mon reason ;  the  consciences  of  men  are  set  at 
nought ;  and  multitudes  are  compelled  not  on- 
ly to  bear  arms,  but  also  to  swear  subjection  to 
a  usurpation  they  abhor. 

"  Animated  by  these  considerations ;  at  the 
hea<i  of  troops  in  the  full  powers  of  health,  dis- 
cipline, and  valor ;  determined  to  strike  where 
necessar}^  and  anxious  to  spare  where  possible, 
I  by  these  presents  invite  and  exhort  all  per- 
sons, in  all  places  where  the  progress  of  this  ar- 


COL.  E«  ALLEN  S  CAPTIVITV. 


121 


my  may  point ;  and  by  the  blessing  of  God  I 
will  extend  it  htfto  maintfiin  such  a  conduct 
as  may  justify  me  in  protecting  their  landsy,hab> 
itations  and  families.    The  intention  of  this 
address  is  to  hold  forth  security,  not:  depreda- 
tion to  the  country.    To  those  whom  spirit  and 
principle  may  induce  to  partake  of  the  gloriotis 
taskof  redeeming  their  countrymen  from  dun- 
geons, and  re-establishing  the  blessings  of  le- 
gal governments    I  offer  encouragement  aud 
employment ;  and  upon  the  first  intelligence 
of  their  associations,  I  will  find  means  to  assist 
their  undertakings.     The  domestic,  the  indus- 
trious,   the  infirm,  and  even  the  timid  inhabi- 
tants, I  am  desirous  to  protect,  provided  they 
remain  quietly  at  their  houses  -,  that  they  do  not 
sufifer  their  cattle  to  be  removed,  nor  their  com 
or  forage  to  be  secreted  or  destroyed ;    that 
they  do  not  break  up  their  ridges  or  roads  : 
nor  by  any  other  act,  directly  or  indirectiy,  en- 
deavor to  obstruct  the'  operations  of  the  king^s 
troops,  or  supply  or  assist  those  of  the  enemy. 
Every  species  of  provision  brought  to  my  camp 
will  be  paid  for  at  an  equitable  rate,  and  in  so- 
lid coin. 


I 


'ri' 


■4 


l) 


1 1-  I 


122  A  KA&RATiyTE    OF 

:,  iii^in  conscbusnessofcchmtanity,  my fXoyfU 
mai^ler's  clemency,  ml  Aejionor  of  9o|i4i^ 
ship,  I  have  dwelt  upon  this  invitation^  «iid 
^wished  £»:  more.p^isiiaslve  tenm  |o  giv|i  Itim- 
pression :  And  let  notpeople  be^edto  disre- 
gard  it,  by  considering  their  distanceiirom  the 
immediate  situation  of  my:camp*»rTrl  liave  but 
to  give  stretch  to  the  Indian  force9;^nder  ixay 
direction,  mid  they  amount  to  thousand^y  to 
overtake  the  hardened  enemies. of  cGi^eot-Bid- 
tain  and  America :  I  consider  thQm  the>  js^ne 
wherever  they  may  hirit. 

^  ;If^  notwithdtanding-these  endeavouss^^aild 
smcere  inclinations  to  eibctthfim,  the  p^cj^p^ 
of  host^ity  should  remain,  I  trust  I  ^sfi  stand 
acquitted  in  the  eyes  of  God  and  meiii  im  de- 
nouncing and  executing  the  vengeance  of  the 
state  against  the  wilful  outcafi^s. — The  mes- 
sengers of  justice  and  of  wrath  await  them  in 
the  field ;  and  devastation,  famine,  and  every 
concomitant  horror  that  a  reluctant  but  indis- 
pensible  prosecution  of  military  duty  must  oc- 
aasion,  will  bear  the  way  to  their  return. 

J.  buiigoyn|/ 


COL  E.  A&LEI^'S  CAPTIVITY. 


123 


.**1^0fder  of  his  excellency  the  Ueut.  gene- 

ralf  ROBT.    KiKGSTOH, 

*.  Seeretart/. 

i  "  Can^  near  Ttconderoga,  AithJuly^  1777. 


Geii.  Bargoyne  was  still  the  toast,  and  the 
severities  towards  the  prisoner's  were  in  great 
measure!  increased  or  diminishedv  in  proportion 
to  the  ej^pectation  of  conquest.     His  vety  Os- 
tentatious proclamation  was  in  the  haiid  and 
mouth  of  the  soldiery,  especially  the  tories,  and 
from  it,  their  faith  was  raised  to  assiihince — I 
ivish  my  countrymen  in  general  could  but  have 
an  idcft  of  the  assuming  tyranny,  and  haughty, 
malevolent,  and  insolent  behivior  of  the  enemy 
at  that  time ;  and  from  thence  discern  the  in- 
tolerable calamities  which  this  country  have 
extricated  themselveg  from  by  their  public  spi- 
ritedness  and  bravery.— The  downfall  of  gen. 
Burgoyne ;  and  surrender  of  his  whole  army, 
dashed  the  aspiring  hopes  and  expectations  of 
the  enemy,  and  brought  low  the  imperious 
spirit  of  an  opulent,  puisdant  and  haughty  na- 
tion, and  made  the  tories  bite  the  ground  with 


124; 


A    NARRATITl    OF 


M 


anguish,  exalting  the  valor  of  the  free-born 
sons  of  America,  and  raised  their  fame  and 
that  of  their  brave  commanders  to  the  clouds, 
and  immortalized  gen.  Gates  with  laurels  of 
eternal  duration.-— No  sooner  had  the  knowl- 
edge of  this  interesting  and  mighty  event  reach- 
ed His  Most  Christian  Majesty,  who  in  £u. 
rope  siiines^ith  a  superior  lustre  in  goodness, 
policy  and  arms,  but  the  illustrious  potentate, 
auspiciously  influenced  by  heaven  to  promote 
the  reciprocal  interests  .-^ud  happiness  of  the  an- 
cient kingdom  of  t'rance,  and  the  m  w  and  ris- 
ing states  of  America,  passed  the  great  and  de- 
cisive decree,  that  the  United  States  of  Ameri- 
ca, should  be  free  and  independent,— r Vaunt  no 
more,  Old  England  !  consider  you  are  but  an 
j^nd  !  and  that  your  power  has  been  continu- 
td  longer  than  the  exercise  of  your  humanity. 
Order  your  broken  and  vanquished  battalions 
to  retire  from  America,  the  scene  of  your  cru- 
elties. Go  liome  and  repent  in  dust  and  sack- 
cloth for  your  aggravated  crimes.  The  cries 
of  bereaved  parents,  widows,  and  orphans, 
reach  the  heavens,  an  .1  you  are  abominated  l^y 
every  friend  to  America.     Take  your  friends 


CL?*'J'-a:f«r-r"'-'-  :■  •; 


COL.  £•  Allen's  CAPTIVITY.      1^5 

th^tories  with  you,  and  be  gone,  and  drink 
deep  of  the  cup.  of  humiliation.  Make  peace 
with  the  princes  ofv  the  house  of  Bourbon, 
for  you  are  in  no  condition  to  wage  war' with 
them.  Your  veteran  soldiers  are  fallen  in 
America,  and  your  glory  is  departed.  Be 
quiet  and  pay  your  debts,  especially  for  the 
hire  of  the  Hessians.  There  is  no  other  way 
for  you  to  get  into  credit  again,  but  by  re* 
formation  and  plain  honesty,  which  you  have 
despised  ;  for  your  power  is  by  no  means 
Sufficient  to  support  your  vanity.  I  have  had 
opportunity  to  see  a  great  deal  of  it,  and  felt 
its  severe  effects,  and  learned  lessons  of  wis- 
dom and  policy,  when  I  wore  your  heavy 
irons,  and  bore  your  bitter  revilingsand  re. 
preaches.  I  have  something  of  a  smatter- 
ing of  philosophy,  and  understand  hitman 
nature  iii  all  its  stages  tolerably  well ;  am 
thoroughly  acquainted  with,  your  national 
crimes,  and  assure  you  that  they  not  only 
cry  aloud  for  heuven's  vengeance,  but  excite 
mankind  to  rise  up  against  you.  Virtue, 
wisdom  and  policy  are,  in  a  national  sense, 
always  connected  with  power,  or  in  other 

L  2 


i-*y 


vJ>4 


126 


A  KARRATfAS  0¥ 


)  ^ 


IH' 


words,  powei*  is  ^ir  dfArpdfng,  tocf'^ureh 
power  as  is  not  directed  by  viirtUe,  wisdbifi 
and  policy^,  never  fails  finally  t<>  destVoy  it- 
self as  yours  has  done.— ft  is. so  in  th^  tii- 
ture  qf  things,  and  unfit  that  it  should  be 
otherwise ;  for  if  it  wali  not  so,  vainity,  injus- 
tice, and  oppression,  might  reign  triuttiphant 
forever.  I  know  yoii  have  in^dividuals^,  who 
still  retain  their  virtue,  and  consetfUently 
theif  honor  and  humanity.  Those  I  really 
pity,  as  they  must  more  or  less  suflTer  in  the 
calamity,  in  which  the  nation  is  pltiHged 
headlong  ;  but  as  a  natioii  t  hate  and  d^- 
pise  you. 

My  affections  are  Frenchified. — Iglbry  in 
Louis  the  sixteenth,  the  generous  and  pow^ 
erful  ally  of  these  st^Us;  am  fond  of  a  coti;. 
nection  with  so  enterprizing,  learned,  polite, 
courteous,  and  commercial  a  nation,  and  am 
sure  that  r  express  the  sehttments'  and  fbel- 
ings  of  all  the  friends  to  the  present  revolu. 
tion.  I  begin  to  learn  the  French  tqngae, 
and  recommend  it  to  my  countrymen  before 
Hebrew,  Greek  or  Latin,  (provided  but  one 
%  pf  thein  bnly  are  to  be  attended  to)  fdr  the 


\ 


COL.  B.    AXI)£M*S  captivity. 


127 


trade  and  cotkiittveree  of  these  stiftes  hif  fli. 
iMt>t  fimst  inttviubljr^  shift  its  cHanneT  frbm 
Englaiic^tb^ratiice,  Spain  and' Forttigai';  arid! 
therefor^  tHe  statesman,  p6liti(iii(ni  and  n(ier-  v 
chant,  need'be  acquainted  with  their  sei^eral 
languages,  particularly  the  French,  whieli  is 
much  in  vogue  in  most  parts  of  Europe. 
INlbthing  could  have  served' sd  effectually  to 
illuminate,  polish,  and  enrich  these  states  as 
the  present  revolution,  as  Well  as  preserve 
their  liberty.    Mankind  are  naturally  too  na- 
tional, even  to  a  degree  of  bigotry,  and  com- 
mercial intercourse  with  foreign  nations,  has 
a  great  and  necessary  tendency  to  improve 
mankind,  and  erase  the  superstition  of  the 
mind  by  acquainting  them  that  human  na- 
ture, policy  and  interest,  are  the  same  in  all 
nations,  and  at  the  same  time  they  are  bar- 
tering commodities  for  the  conveniences  and 
the  happiness  of  each  nation,  they  may  reci- 
procally exchange  such  part  of  their  cus- 
toms and  manners  as  may  be  beneficial,  and 
learn  to  extend  charity  and  good  will  to  the 
whole  world  of  mankind.  ——-I  was  confmed 
in  the  provost- gaol  at  New- York  the  26th 


4       4.: 


H 


f 


t 


138 


A   XAIHATIVS  Of 


I 


n 


day  of  August,  and  continued  there  to  the 
third  day  of  May»  1778,  when  I  waa  tali^n 
out  under  guard,,  and  conducted  to  a 
slopp  in  the  harbor  at  Nc;w^York,  in  whic|i 
I  was  guarded  to  Staten-Island,  to  general 
Campbell's  quarters,  where  I  was  admitted 
to  eat  and  drink  with  the  general  and  sever, 
ai  other  of  the  British  field  officers,  and  treat- 
ed  for  two  days  in  a  polite  >nanner.  As  I  was 
drin]|:'>ng  wine  with  them  one  evening,  I  made 
an  observation  on  my  transition  from  the  pro: 
vost-criminals  to  the  company  of  gentlemen, 
adding  that  I  was  the  same  man  still,  and  should 
give  the  British  credit  by  him  (speaking  to  the 
general)  for  two  days  good  usage. 

The  next  day  col.  Archibald  Campbell,  who 
was  exchanged  for  me,  came  to  this  place, 
conducted  by  Mr.  Boudinot,  the  then  Ameri- 
can commissary  of  prisoners,  and  saluted  me 
in  a  handsome  manner,  saying  that  he  never 
was  more  glad  to  see  any  gentleman  in  his  life, 
and  I  gave  him  to  understand  that  I  was  equal- 
ly glad  to  see  him,  and  was  apprehensive  that 
it  was  from  the  same  motive.  The  gentlemlen 
present  laughed  at  thc'fancy,  and  conjectured 


/ 


COL.  B.  alien's    captivity. 


that  sweet  liberty  was  the  foundatiofi  of  our 
gladness ;  so  we  took  a  glass  of  wine  together, 
and  then  I  was  accompanied  by  g^n;  Camp* 
bell,  col.  Campbell,  Mr»  Boudinot,  and  a  num- 
ber of  British  officers,  to  the  boat,  which  was 
ready  to  sail  to  EHzabethtown-point  Mean 
while  I  entertained  them  with  a  rehearsal  of 
the  cruelties  exercised  towards  our  prisoners ; 
and  assured  them  that  I  should  use  my  influ- 
ence, that  their  prisoners  should  be  treated  m 
future  in  the  same  manner,  as  they  should  in 
future  treat  ours ;  that  I  thought  it  was  right 
in  such  extreme  cases,  that  their  example 
should  be  applied  to  their  own  prisoners  ;  then 
•exfchanged  the  decent  ceremonies  of  compli- 
ment, and  parted.  I  sailed  to  the  point  afore- 
said, and,  in  a  transport  of  joy,  landed  on  lib- 
erty ground,  and,  as  I  advaflced  into  the  coun- 
try, received  the  acclamations  of  a  grateful  peo* 
pie. 

I  soon  fell  into  company  with  col.  Sheldon, 
of  the  light  horse,  who  in  a  polite  and  oblig- 
ing manner,  accompanied  me  to  head-quarters. 
Valley  Forge,  where  I  was  courteously  receiv- 
ed by  ^en.  Washington,  \yith  ptculiar  niark^ 


/ : '; 


V    1 


x      > 


•m 


^fiXtw-ii 


i  i 


im 


Mf^A^tAtitk   of 


i     / 


P    \ 


dttCed  Xi^  moiit  of  HhA  geti^rab;  toid  matiy  of 
the  priiicif^al-  oiBcers  of  the  aitny '  ivhd  treated 
me  with  re^ct,  ahd  after  having  ofifered  gen. 
cral  Washihgtoil  my  farther  service,  irt  behalf 
of  nty  country,  as  soon  as  my  health,   which 
wds  Very  much  imp^red,  would  admit,  and  ob- 
tiuh  his  licence  to  return  home,  I  took  my  leave 
of  Ms  excellency,  and  set  out  from  Valley 
Forge  with  gen;  Gates  and  his  suit  for  Fish 
Kill,  where  we  arrived  the  latter  end  of  May. 
In  this  tour  the  gen;  was  pleased  to  treat  me 
with  the  familiarity  of  a  companion,  aiid  gen- 
erosity of  a  lord,  and  to  him  I  made  known 
some  striking  circumstances  which  occurred 
in  the  course  of  my  captivity.    I  then  bld'fkre- 
well  to  my  noble  gen.  and  the  gentliemen  of  his 
retinue,  and  set  out  for  Bennington,  the  capital 
of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  where  I  arrived 
the  evening  of  the  last  day  of  May,  to  their 
great  surprise  ;  for  I  was  to  them  as  one  rose 
from  the  dead,  and  now  both  their  joy  and  mine 
was  complete.     Three  cannon  were  fired  that 
evening,  and  next  morning  col.  Herrick  g^ve 
orders,  and    fourteen  more  were  discharged' 


COL.  E.  ALIEN'S  CAPTIVITY. 


131 


welcoming  me  to  Berniihg^on,  my  usual  place 
of  abode ;  thirteen  for  the  United  States,  and 
one  for  young  Vermont. 

After  tlus  ceremony  was  ended  we  moved 
the  flowing  bowl,  and  rural  felicity,  sweetened 
with  friendship,  glowed  in  each  countenance, 
and  with  loyal  healths  to  the  rising  States  of 
America,  concluded  that  evening,  and  with  the 
same  loyvl  spirit,  I  now  conclude  my  narra- 
tive. 


I    n 


I    , 


i! 


iti 


i^i 


il'^  A 


^i    'Ji. 


i'  u 


Ml 


■11 

'  ,(l 


^j  fiiiW''£)* 


•  &f". 


'■\ 


fU 


mi 


'fMiu^ 


-iX.  '' 


■iii«Kv; 


.<>  -in' 


OF 


■fl 


i^ia.  £ir»AM^  AULKnr 


••  -f  J  ■/.■ 


Ft ftoii  Tsa  iiifiCAt<BA»  iioom^f HicAi.  Dt^TiOMAKV .}i 

£Tif  AN  iy;X£X>  a  brtg«4M*^g«|Mial%  tlie  wair, 
^ff^t-Britaiiii  WM  born  In  $ali»buiy>  C^ineeiicul^ 
WhUe,,  he  wap  youngs  bis  paveotK  emimtcd  to  Vej*-. 
m«nt..  At  tl|^CQni^i|enpMa«nt  of.  the  dlaturhepiceim; 


New-Toi^»    An  act  oFov^viy,  against  hlmwaspaiav 
ed  bjr  tbl^  ctftet  and  500  guinea^  were  offer«<|  for  bit^ 
ai>pi^riieni|on  4-  but  hia  |larty  waa  too  numeroua'  au4 
fiiiil$hiiU.tq  j^mtt  him  to  be  duiufb^d  bjf  W  •pprebefif , 
aim  tor  M.  wfet]^ »  III  all  the  •tnigglea  ot  the  dajr  hig, 
was  ■vct^eM^il.i  and  he  not  onlf  proved  i|  valiMbl^ 
friend  to  tbptei  whose  cause  he  had  espou«e4  bi^  he 
wai  hiM^ane  and  generous  toward  those*  with  whbi^  he« 
had  to  o^tend^  ;  When  called  to  take  the  field*  lb 
^owed  hiinsellan  able  leader  and  an  intrepid  soldier. 

The  news  of  the  battle  ol  Lexington  determined  col- 
onel Allen  to  engai^  Ml  the  ^de  tn  his  countrv^  and.iii- 
spiredhim  with  tHe  desire  of  dcumo^strating  his  ftttacii- 
ment  to  liberty  by  some  bold,  ex^it.  VVlule  his  mibd 
was  in  this  state  a  plan  for  taking  Ticondei-og|S  snd  Qrowii 
Point  by  surprise,  which  waa  &med  by  several  gentle-^ 
men  in  Coopeqttcut*  waa  communicated  to  Mnit  wid  he 
readily  engaged  in  the  project.  Receiving  directionH 
iVom  the  genend  assembly  of  Connecticut  to  raise  tlie 
green  mountam  buys,  and  conduct  the  enternrUe*  he 
M 


'..   -^ 


1 


(■ 


t 
y 


134 


BIOGIAFHY    aF 


cdlected330  of  the  hardjr  settlers  and  proceeded  to 
Castleton.     Hem  hp  ww  umDxpectedljr  joined  bf  c»i. 
Arnold)  who  had  bech  commiiiioned  by  toe  Mfiiiohfi 
setts  comnuttee  to  raise  400  meui  and  effect  Ibe  UMpw 
object)  which  was  now  about  lo  be  accompUaliod*    As 
he  had  not  raised  the  meO)  he  was  admitted  to  act  as  pn 
assistant  toxoloi^L Allen.,   ThqUpeached  the  lake  op- 
posite  T^MUd^wgaion  tW  iVeningc^ibei  fitb^cfBAajr, 
1775.    With  the  utmost  difficulty  boats  were  procured* 
and  83  men  were  landed  near  the  garrison.    The  ap- 
pjhiacli  of  day  rendering,  it  danp;e^HS  to  wajiljlbs  tb« 
rear,  h  was  ^termined  imme^tdy  to  proceed.    The 
commander  in  chief  now  addressed  his  men*  represe;^tr 
ing  that  they  had  been  for  a  number  of  years  ^  ^Qurgp 
to  arbitrary  powers  and  famed*  for  their  valor^  and^  c)^ 
ckidi^  widi  saying)  <*  I  now  propose  to  advance  before 
fw,  and  in  person  conduct  vilu  throiigh  the  wicket 
gate,  and  yoU)  that  will  go  with  me  Voluntarily  in  ^s 
desperate  attempt)  poise  your  fineloeks/'    At  tho  h(»d 
of  the  centre  file  he  inarched  ihstantfy  to  the  gate)  where 
li  sentry  snapped  hb  gim  at  himi^nd  rcftreated  through 
the  covered  way  ;  he  pressed  forward  into  thefint)  and 
^rmed  his  men  on  the  parade  in^uch  a  manner  as  to 
face  two  opposite  barracks.    Three  huzzas  awaked  the 
garriami.    A  sentry)  who  «sked  quarter)  pointed  out  the 
apartments  of  the  coihmanding  oflicer.;  and  Allen  wiUi 
a  drawn  sword  over  tha  head  of  caption  De  la  Place) 
>yho  was  undressed)  demanded  the  surrender  of  the  fbrt. 
**  By  what  authority  do  you  demand  i^?*'  inquired  th^ 
mtonivhfjd  commander;     **  1  demand  it)"  sakl  Allen, 
M-in  the  name  of  the  great  Jehovah  and  of  tlie  continen- 
tal congress."    The  summons  could  not  be  disobeyed, 
and  the' fort  with  its  very  valuable  stores  and  49  pnsoh- 
ers  was  immediately  sorrendered.     Crown  Point  was 
tuken  the~  same  day,  and  the  capture  of  a  sloop  of  war 
soon  afterwards  made  Allen  and  his  brave  party  com-f 
plete  masters  of  Lake  €hamplain. 

In  the  ^It  of  1775  he  was  sent  twice  into  Canada  to 
observe  tiie  dispositions  of  the  people)  and  attach  ^em, 
if  possible)' to  the  American  cause.    During  this  lait 


col;'%.  allbh. 


isS 


loiir'e^l^l  Bt<)Mrn  thdt  him,  af^  prbpos^d  an  littapk 
ujb^Mi^fvarinei^liidert  The  pto^»oial  vai  eagerly 
ei^iMlldt>^6ibi9ika  Allctt^^^^  near  80  of 

^»)iMh  wei^CiDad!an%  river  Iti  die  night  of 

Bept^her  34*  In  ^e  moining  he  waited  i»ith  impa* 
tience  ifbr  the  8!||hal  fron^  col^l'  ftrowiiy  who  agreed 
to  coHipeTaiO  wiui  him  ;  ^ut  he  waited  in  ydn.  He 
made  ii  reaolutp  defenciB  i^tl^t  an  iittaeli  of  f(00  men* 
and  it  wna  not  till  his  own  party  was  Fedticed  by  desier- 
tions  to  the  number  of  31,  aha  Ihe  had  retreated  near  a 
mili^  that  he  surrendered.  A  moment  afterwards  a  fu- 
liqus  savage  rusho<l  towards  hinii  and  presented  his  fire- 
lock with  the  tntient  of  kilting  him.  It  was  only  %  mali(< 
i|ig  use  oi*  the  t|ody  of  th^  officer)  to  whom  Jhe  had  giveh 
hia  awordf  as  a  shield,  that  he  'escaped  desHructioh. 

He  was  now  kept  far  some  time  in  irons  and  treated 
with'  g^at  cruelty.  He  was  sent  to  Enghind  as  a  pri- 
eener,  being  Msui^dthi^  the  htdter  would  be  the  reward 
of  hU  rebellioh,  when  he  arrived  there*  Af^er  Ids  Ar- 
rival about  the  middle  of  December  he  was lodge4  fori 
tboit^me  Ib  Pendenniscastloj  h^r  Falmouth.  Qnthe 
'  ath  of  January,  1776,  he  was  put  en  board  a  frigate,  ai^ 
by  a  drcuitious  route,  carried  to  Ratifax.  Here  K^  re- 
muned  eonfiAedih  the  gaol  from  June  to  October,  whin 
he  was  removed  to  New-York.  During  the  pasaagip  to 
'  this  place,  captain  Burke,  a  daring  prisoner,  imposed 
to  kill  the  British  captain  and  seize  the  frigate ;  but 
colonel  Alten  riefused  to  engage  in  tlie  plot,  and  was 
probably  the  means  of  preserving  the  Hfe  of  captifo 
Smith,  who  had  treated  him  very  politely.  He  was  kfpt 
at  New-York  about  a  year  and  a  half,  sometimes  in|- 
prisoned,  and  sometimes  permitted  to  be  <mi  parolfit-- 
While  here,  he  had  an  opportunity  to  observe  the  i^|^- 
man  manner,  in  which  the  American  prisoners  were 
tteatcd.  In  one  of  the  churches,  in  which  they  l^eire 
erowdedi  he  saw  seven  lying  dead  at  one  time,  and  others 
biting  pieces  of  chips  firom  hunger.  He^  calculated, 
that  of  the  prisoners  taken  at  Long-Island  and  Fort 
Washington^  near  9000  perished  by  hunger  and  cold, 
or  in  consequence  of  diseases  occasidtied  by  the  imprti- 
ty  of  their  prisons. 


136 


BIOGSAPRY    OF 


u 


Colonel  Allen  was  exchanged  for  colonel  Ckmpbell 
May  6)  1778,  and  after  having  repured  to  head  quar« 
ter&t^and  pffered  hb.  servicer  ta  general  Wa«b^)njo&  In 
caiA  his  health  should  be  restored,  lie  tctattm  W  Ver- 
mont. His  arrival  on  the  evening  of  the  tabt  of  May 
ga^e  Ms  friends  great  joy,  ftiidfit  was  aiAildtiflfceiJf  by  the 
discharge  of  cannon.  As  ui  expression  6f  i^dimE^tce 
in  his  patriotism  and  militftty  talents  he  iria'xi^'iihn 
appoihtedio  the  ebminafld of  tUt state  itiilida.  Itdb^ 
npt  appear  however,  that  his  latrepldi^f  Was  eVer  unhi 
fought  to  the  test,  though  hii  patriotism'  irtA  tfDed'by 
ai|,^ucce.sMul  attempt  of  the  British  to  bribe  h^  to 
attemti^R  imioin  of  Vermont  with  CaiMda.  Hd'l&b^ 
i^^toly  at  his  estate  in  Clolchester  I^eH.  IS,  irW^^ 

w^^viiL  AHen  possessed  strong  pow^ni  of  itiM,'1tat 
rjLlV^yneyeF  felt  th^  influ£lnclb  Of  edUtalloil.  '  TkAi^Ii^he 
'"^i^s  %yei  humane  and  genierttus  i  yet  hfiiebtfdncr  does 
it^oi.^em  toMvi  been  niuch  int}a«fiie^  by  eoitefdlh^. 
'\ipnji  respecting  that  holy  and  fh«fdful''B^Slig,^^D^e 
'^ch^riictor  iind'tvhote  commands  are  disclosed  tbus^in 
t|^'..siirTptU^ei.    ^His  notions  with  regard 'toreli^n 
I'l^re.such,  as  to  prove,  that  those,  who  rather dofilid^tii 
{il|Vc>«ri^  wisdom  than  seek  Instructfon  fhiitlii  h^#en, 
*^nii|^'eTnbrace'ab6urdiiies,  which  w(^ld  disgt^ace  the  un- 
'1|erstan^i)g  of  a  child,    tf  e  believed^  with  Pythaigotias, 
thSirmfin  after  death  would  trahsmigrate  into  bba^s, 
bM^fiiihef,  reptiles,  &c.  and  often  informed  his  Mesi^, 
'^hat.heMmselt  expected  to  live  again  in  the  fofrti  df  a 
^ large  white  ^^orse.  >'* 

^l^ides  a  number  of  pamphlets  in  the  eontrovefiy 
Wlji  ^JeW-YoA,  l^c  published  in  1779  a  narraiiv*  of  his 
^WpVyations  during  his  captivity,  which  has  been  lately 
"rc^Med  ;  ai^indication  of  the  Opposition  of  the  inhab- 
'Ij^nis  of  Vermont  to  the  government  of  New- York,' ind 
^'tWir' right  to  form  an  hidependent  state,  1779  r«Wd 
^'At|^s  theology,  Or  the  oracW  of  reason,  1786.    This 
7aii|rWork  wa^unended  to  iidicule  the  doctrine  of  Mosea 
'  ntiul  the  prophets.    It  would  he  unjust  to  bring  M;til|8t 
ft;  tho  charge  of  having  effected  great  mischief  jnitht 
ihMy  for  few  haviB  hdd  the  patience  to  read  hr*         •  '  ^ 

•'*■  ^      ■  .      :       ■  -  .       ,         ■*■■■■    tn'^ 


•GEN.    GREENE. 


13: 


^r  Mfw,-^*  #**  OF  GEN.  GRIIeNE. 

j»d<rKAwHANIEL  OkE£ME9  « ttu^  general  of  tke 
4ltmf  #f  tte  UfiUml  States,  iraa  bom  in  Warwick, 
£jLMenlal«id,4MM(  the  year  1740.  His  parent*  were 
^qmHit8« ,  ttia  ;6M;her  was  an  andbor  andtb#  who  was 
aufwutimA  m  aomeiraliiablo  inon  w»rk%  and  transacted 
;  ^i^busuiissk  WhUethe  waa  a  boy,  K«  teamed  the 
-i4|KUi :  language  cliiefty  by  hw' own  unassisted  ndutstry. 
^Hivfing  procured  a  small  iilBravirt  his  niiid  was  much 
«a«Rpmvedt  though  the  perusal  of  militaiy  history  oocu- 
•ifM^tooiisideniMe  share  of  hia  aittentlOB.  Such  was 
j4heeiliflsatiaQ«ft  which  hb  character  was  heldj  that  he 
yUPas  at  Kn.  early  period  of  hi»  life '  chosen  a  member  of 
^lisiemhly  of  Rhode^Island.  After  the  battle  of  Lgx- 
.<Mgl0tt4iad  eiriilnfUed?atonce  ^e«]^rit  of  Ameiii'eans 
,,tJivtiilghoiit  the -whole  condnent,  Mr.  Greene,  though 
^ledutMledin  the  peioeful  priaeiples  of  the  friends,  cottld 
^imlaxdngnishthe  martial  ardor,  which  had  been  ex- 
•  fiilldin  his  own  breast.  Receiving  the  command  of 
•)liii^regM»ent»ilrith  the  title  of  brigadier  general,  he 
:  Mftfcefni  |Q*!Gembridgie ;  in  conaequeno»  of  wlucK  the 

i^^tlkecs  renounced  aU  connexion  With  him  an  a  mem* 
:,Wr  pi  iheir  religious  body»  On  the  arrival  of  Wash- 
;;  tegton  at  Cambifdt|;e«  he  wtos  the  first,  who  expressed  to 
.  the  commander  in  chief  his  salisfactiab  in  his'>appefait* 
i^nentt  atidiie  soon  gained  his  entire  confidencoi  :  ^e 
VliSMt  Appointed  by  congress  maior  genend  in  Au,  tst 

.ilir76>  In  the  battles- of  Trenton  on  the  twenty-sixth 
^MofrDjBcember  following,  and  of  Princeton  on  the.  third 
vof  January  1777  he  was  much  distmguished;    He  cohi- 

smanded  the  left  wing  of  ttiii^-Amerlcan  army  at  the  btt- 

.^l#of  Germantown  on  the  fiM^ilrth.  of  October.    In  Mavch 

^4(Ff6-  h0'  was  appointed  <|natter  nua^er  general^  which 

,  pflftce  he  accepted  on  conoiiion,  that  hb.vai^  inithoar- 

limy  should  not  beiffiscte^  and  that  he  dhoiikl  retahi  bin 

command  in  the  time  of  action.    Thia^^ri^^  he  exertia- 

ed  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  Jiin*.at  the  ty^ttle  of  Mon- 
ad 2 


168 


BtOGRAPHT   OF 


"-^' 


mouths    HH  courage  and  alull  wsrr  4g«ti|  diaolUMd  on 

tUo  tWehtf-nlmli  of  Attgast  fa  RlMde^IMM^    Hi  f» 

signed  in  this  year  the  office  of  <mart«r  master  genendy 

and  wai  svcceeded  bf  colbncl  FlbtMiting*  ''  Afterithe 

disaatevBv  wMclr  attended  tho  Ametlcaki  arnsiii^Mfh 

Carolina,  he  waa  aroointed  to  aupeiwde  Qvtes,  mii^ 

took  the  oommaudfii  the-aooihern  department  Dnmii» 

ber  3,  IfSO.    Having  recmiied  the  nriny.  'viMeli  iMd 

been  vxceedingly  rednced:  by  defwt  and  tkaertiap>  tie 

semottt  a  detadimem  tinder  the  brave  fiiiefid-  Morv 

gan,  wha  gained  the  important  victory  at  the  Cttrjpiiii 

January  1 7, 1 78 1 .    'Greene  effected  a  junction  withliiii 

on  the  seventh  of  February,  but  on  acooteibo^  tb#'e«- 

perior  numbers  of  Oymwaltts  he  vetfiQated  mkk-ffmu 

skiil  l!o  Virginia.    Having  received  an  'tteeesaioK  t»  Ms 

forces,  he  returned  to  North  CoroliM^  andlnthe  battle 

of  Guilfidrd  on  the  Meenthof  Mafcb'  »as  defeeniiti  ■ 

The  victory  hovrever  #as  dearly  iMMightlif  the  BviMy 

.  for  their  loss  was  greater  than  that  of  the  AMitfiitfain, 

an^i  no  advantages  were  derived  from  it.    In  «>^Mr  Aiyi 

ComwaUis  begian  to  mareh  towards  WttmingteiHlia»i> 

ing  many  of  his  wounded  behind  him,  wiiielr  had  lite 

ai^peaninte  of  a  retreat,  and  Greene  fbHowedifimHror 

some  time.    But  altering  his  plan,  he  resolved  40  ve- 

commence  oflbnsive  operationsin  South  Carolina.    He 

accontttngly  marched  direetly  to  Oamden,  where  oh  tike 

twetHy^finh  of  April  he  was  engaged  with  lord  Rawdon. 

Victory  inclined  for  some  time  to  Che  AlRSerieane,  iMt 

the  retreat  of  two  companies  oecasionedihe'd/ifeatitf 

the  whoie  army.    Greene -retwated  in  good  orders  ai^ 

took  such  measures  as  eflbetuoily  prevented  lord  Rmt' 

don  from  improving  his  si|ieceas,and  obliged  him  in  4Aio 

beginning  of  May  to  retire  beyond  the  Stuitee.    While 

he  wids  in  the  neighborhood  of  Santee,  Greene  hung  in 

one  day  eight  soldiers,  who  had  desenM  front  his  arniy. 

For  tt^'ee  months  afterwards  no  instance  of  deaei^ion 

took  niace.  >  A  number  of  forts  and  garrisons  in  South 

CaroUna  now  i«ll  jtMo  his  h«ids.    He  commenced  Ae 

-siege  ofNinety  «ik  oil  the  twenty  second  of  May,  but 

he  w^s  obli^d  &n  the  approach  of  4ort(i  Rawdoo  in  June 


CEK.    01S2H1. 


13^ 


to  ntelte  rf<^;   The  army*  which  had  hM«  highV 
eneouta^d  ^  lli«  ht»  ■ucc«m»  wm  now  Eodtteod  $b  th* 
niftliiieholijr  necetilty  of  retreii^b^  to  the  t«tr«mlty  of 
th(kiitii#.    tlie  AvMi&ui  comnuiiidtr  wis  iidfliM  ,to 
ttfdM  to  Vir^faU  i  tout  to  uig|eition»  of  ^hU  hindiW 
YOfflM,  « t  wul  recover  South  IpeniUiiai  or  die.  In  tlie 
M/mim-r    Waltbg  till  tbo  Qfitish  forcot  weic ifevided. 
iMrJBKedibout}  and  lord  R«wdo9  waapoitiied  tnhia  ti|i«|y 
'and  wttk  offered  battle  after  he  reached  hie  eneairtninenr 
at  Oklu^pritergh,  but  hedeipttiie^U^  Qn  the  eigpilh.of 
'SiBplemtMtr  Greene  coTerad  htoiaelf  with  glorjr  by  the 
victory  at  the  Eutaw  springi,  b  which  the  Britiah«  who 
fought  with  the  utmost  bi«verjr«  loat  eleven  hundred 
men»  and  the  Americuit  aSout  half  that  number.    For 
hb  .good^condttct  in^iii  aotion  cnngcesa  areiented  him 
with^  iiridsh  tundard  and  a  gold^  medah    Thb  en- 
gagement majr  be  conaidered  aa  cloung  the  rexolutionf 
aif 'Wi^  in  Smith  CarOlUia.    Durinc  the  reminder  of 
hit  eointtuind  he  had  to  airuggle  imh  the  greatekit  lif- 
-  ieMltiea  fitifh  the  waiit  of  auppBea  tat ,  hit  trpcpa.iw 
Stteng  ^finpuMn  tit  mutiny  eppeai^  but  faia  ftmliieta 
-Mfi  deelafain  conipleteljr  quelled  it. 
'1  Aftbr  ibn  cdiicliiaiiMi  of  the  war  he  hrtumed  to  Rhbde 
-lalahd)  #liere  the  greateat  dlNithaiona  prevfAed,  and 
Klatinden^i'aira  to  reatore  harmony  were  attended  with 
anifjeis.     fn  October   1785  he  tailed   to   Georgfa* 
«here  he  hada  conaidenible  estate  hot  far  (!Sitani;lii^ 
Savannah.    Hehs  he  paiued  hit  time  as  a  private  ^«> 
nett)  bdeupied  bf  doRi(Bfltic  concerns.    While  walking 
w^lhdttt  an  umbrellaf  the  infenie  raya  of  the  sun  over- 
petered  liim»  and  'occasioned  an  inflammatidn  of  Uie 
bNtin,cf  irhfeh  he  died  Juiie  19,  1786,  in  theforty- 
-sevehth  year  of  liis  age.    In  Augusjt  following,  con- 
greas  ordered  a  mondment  to  be  erected  to  Ms  memo- 
ry ait  the  seat  of  the  federal  government. 
"    Ctenerttl  Qreene  possessed  a  humane  and  benevolent 
disposition,  and  abhorrhig  the  cruelties  and  excesses, 
of  nhieh  parthMiiBon  both  sides  were  guilty^  he  uni- 
•  ibrmly  inculcated «  spHit  of  thuQeratron.    Yet  he  was 
resolutely  aevtre,  wlwn  the  preservation  of  discipline 


:l 


11 


•.4^ 


140 


I    f 


r  ' 


ftlQCBAFHY    OF 


rendered  severifjr  n^easaiy.    In  the 
V^MAjM  'th«  t>ttKtenifte,  the  MW^ 

iieittlBdint)ftid,  ikiid^hieti'^lli^  ^ifw  Wl 

l^tfi  We  wy8,  tW ^ Jrto^ 
^nOuVnr« 

imhm    ,..     ^  _.__.. ^^. 


I  V  '  • 


,s&dmi:(i 


I.  U»!i  :.ie- 


iiU-.: 


^Ttfs. 


A^OG^  *BY  Ot'GRi, 


«r tJie,tJ|u]ted  S  atei,  lyaa  born  in  Ct^esler  q^umibj^pw- 
Jffi^^iAf  lti^74^^,  }^  \773  he  was  #ifp<p»M!d# «f|MW- 
|m0BuU|ne,  ^^e  general  assembly*  where  if)  i^iip^i^ 
-Witn  John  Dickinson,  Xhoinas  Mifllii9>  ^HarlesTlnM- 
jttju  ani^^  othf^r  gentlemen  he  took  an  a^y«,|^|}|tU^,op- 
ppadqn  to  the,  plaint^  of  Great^rjitain^  i^  l^lliJe 
Jilted  the  opuncits  of  his  co}int{y  fqr  the  1^)4*  Ifk-WI- 
tipred  the  ^t;my  iisjt  cqjlondl).^nd  at.the  clqae  of  tb<»  yfwr 
^^^f^i|9|ued  jepiBt^^  Thomson  to  Canacbi.  Wh<i^ih|9 
tt[cer  w^s  delected  in  his  enterpriise  against  th^  Xbrce 
iver^  in,  JTune  1 776,  and  taken  prisoner^  he  himself  i^- 
ceiveci  aMefkh  wound  ia  the  leg.  His  exertions  were 
Useful  in  the  rejtr^at.  \i^  ti\p  san^e  year  ifrefseryfdtt 
lUcpnderoga  under  general  Gates,  by  whpm  he  WiUS 
crsteemcd  both  for  his  courage  and  military  talen|;st  9^ 
for  his  knowledge  as  an  engineer.  At  the  clibae  (oli^llie 
campaign  he  was  made  a  brigadier  genieraU  ^  ]^^l)e 
campaign  of  1777  in  the  middU  ^  states  h|e  .took  i|;irery 
aictive  part  In  the  battle  of  0rai^ wine  he  disting^i^sh- 
ed  himscll^  though  be  w^s  in  a  few  dws  afterward  w^' 
prised  and  defeated  by  major  g<$neral  Grey.  He  foof^ 
also  in  the  battle  of  Gerihantown,  as  well  as  in  the  bat* 


GEN.    WAYNE. 


141 


Ue  of. Monmouth  in  June  1778.  In  hit  mott  daring; 
•nd  ^  .cesi^u[  asffkult  up^  Stqnv  .Point  in  Jiiljr  1779, 
nh0  ^  "^  iiMiM>vg  forward  vkh  hi*  men  tmdev  jt  trt- 
vl4iAiiiilff  of:  vuiaquetrir  tnd  grape  ihot>  d^mdnad 
to  carry  the  woirka  at  the  point  of  the  bajronetf  he  Was 
struck  hf  a  musquet  hall  i||^  his  head.  He  was  for  a 
moment  stunned  ;  but  as  mod  jis  he  was  able  to  rise  so 
asto  res^  on  «oe  knee,  believing  that  his  wound  was 
moral,  he  cried  to  one  tf  hit  aids,  *^  carrjr  me  forward, 
and  let  me  die  in  the  fort.*'  WJiefi  he  entered  i^  he  gi^^e 
'i^ir^iers'te  «t<^'the  eilbsion  of  blood.  In  178 1 1>e.  #as  or- 
dered to.  fHAtch  with  the  femifylnnift  liiie  from  tMe 
noHhwmrd,  and  forin  a  junction  wfth  La  INifette  iti  Vn*- 
^ia.  On  the  sixth  of  lUlr,  after  reetfrin^  ihferma- 
non,  that  the  main  body-of  ]thr  eneifi^'lindteV  CotnwnlHs 
had  crossed  James'  river,  he  i^ressed  fomraiid  at  the 
hea^  ^  eight  hundi^d  men  to  attack  the^tatrrard.*^ 
fint%6  Hii  utter  ti^to^iiihment,  irhteti  he  reached  the 
place,  he  ibirAd  the  whole  British  army,  ccMlslMingbf 
wkKr  ^o«i^and*HU\9n)  ^Wh  u^  rieUdy  to  receive  Mili.-^ 

'  AVtMs  ifi6m<^1ie  cohceived  of  but  ohe  Way  td*  escape. 
Ift»1*b!^i^  t^NvittHil  the  enemy  till  he  came  wlthTn  t^^o 

'^li^'Syirds)  trhi^n  he  cottimenced  a  golTant  alta«k, 
#hl6h  he  stipported  for  a  f(&W  minutes,  atM  then  retr^- 
^'i»ith  fh«  tfthxii^t  exp<iciitiM.    The  British  g^nerU 

^as  Cbh^itnderd  by  this  movement,  knd  apprehensive  of 

~ttr  ifhlbuscade  fi^m  La  Fayette  would  not  allow  of  a  puT;^ 
mlAt    After  ^e  capture  of  Comwallis,  he  was  sent  to 

•«ondifcttheAvar  in  Geori^iti,  where  with  e(iual  sucoeis 
hef  contetMeA  With  British  soldierii,  Itidian  savages  a^(| 
AMetitfah  tr^itotn.  As  a  reward  for  his  services,  #e 
leglislattire  of  Georgia  presented  him  with  a  valuaMe 
liiirnf.  At  the  conclusion  of  the  war  he  retired  to  prii 
v^te  Hfe.  Th  1787  he  was  a  meml>er  of  the  Pernisvlvtt* 
nia  convention,  which  ratified  the  constitution  of  die 
United  Sttttes.  ^^  In  179$  he  sticceeded  St.  Clldrin  die 
^omifiland'of  the  army  to  be  emplbyed  against  iheln? 
ditost-'fn'tfie  battle  of  the  Mtomls  Anguit  30,  .17f4, 
hegoitibd  i&  cBmpWte  Victory  over  the  ehemir :  and  af* 
ter#ird!f  desol-ft^d  their  country.    Oft  the  third  of  AUf 


,1 


142 


BlOCkAPHV    OF 


i*     i 


i^ 


I  !/• 


gust  1795  he  coneluckd  a  treitv  with  iho  hostUe  locUans 
northlreit  df  the  Ohb.  While  in  the  ser?i<eof  hit 
country  ho  died  in  a  hut  it  Presoue  Isl^,  aged  ateut  $f- 
tjjr-on^  yearii  and  Was  buded  on  the  shore  bf  Lake  Erie. 


«*^» 


BiOiGftAjpftV  Of  ^eKjE^utnam! 

1,  ISttl^L  PUTNAM,  a  major  general  in  the  army 
of  the  United  States,  was  bom  at  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
lamwry  7,  1718.    His  mind  was  vigorous,  but  it  was 
never  cuUivatsd  by  education.    When  he  for  the  first 
time  went  to  Opston,  he  was  insulted  for  his  rusticity  Iqr 
a  bo^  fjl  twice  bis  sise.    After  bearing  his  sarcasms  un- 
til; bjis^aood  nature  was  exhausted^  he  attacked  and  "9^* 
4|uisheo  the  unmannerly  feV>ow  to  the  great  diversion -of 
A  crowd  of  spectators.    In  rubning,  leafMng  and  wrest- 
ling lie  almost  always  bore  away  the  pFice«    In  1 73^  Ke 
removed  to  Pomfret  in  Connecticut,  where  No  culti/at- 
cd  a  considerable  tract  of  land.    During  the  'Fretieh  wSr 
-he  was  appointed,  to  command  a  company  of  the  >fi|<st 
trof^s,  which  were  raised  in  Connecticut  in  1755.    He 
rendBre4  much  service  to  the  army  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Crown  Point.    In  1756,  while  near  Ticonderoga,  he 
was  repeatedly  in  the  most  imminent  danger.     He  es- 
caped in  an  adventure  of  one  night  with  twelve  bullet 
holes  in  his  blanket;    In  August  he  was  sent  out  with 
ftveral  hundred  men  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy. 
Being  ambuscaded  by  a  party  coequal  numbers,  a  gener- 
al but  in'egular  attion  took  place.    Putnam  had  dis« 
ebarged  his  fusee  several  times,  but  at  length^  it  missed 
fire,  while  its  muzzle  was  presented  to  the  breast  of  a 
Savage.    The  warrior  with  his  lifted  hatchet  and  a  tre- 
mendous war  whoop  compelled  him  to  surrender,  and 
then  bound  him  to  a  tree,    In  the  course  of  the  action 
•the  parties  changed  their  position,  so  as  to  bring  this 
tree  directly  between  them.    The  balls  flew  by  hkn  in- 
cessantty  (   many  struck  the  tree,  and  some  passed 
through  his  clothes.    The  enemy  now  gained  posses- 


GEN.    PUTKAM, 


143 


BioDAf.  the  ground,  but  being  afterwards  driven  Trom 
the  field  thej  carried  their  prisoner  with  them.    At 
night  he  was  stripped,  and  a  fire  was  kbdledto  roasfi  him 
aUre ;  but  a  French  officer  saved  him.    The  next  dagr 
he  arrived  at  Ticonderoga*  and.thence  he  was  carried 
to  Montreal.    About  the  year  175,9.  he  was  exchanged  . 
through  the  ingenuity  of  his  fellow  prisoneft  colooel . 
Schnyler,    When  peace  took  place  he  returned  to  hia . 
fiknm.    He  was  ploughinc^  in  his  field  in  1 775,  when  he 
heard  the  news  pf  the  ba^,  of  Lexington.    Hk  Imme- 
diately unyolned  his.  team*  left  his.  plough  on.  the  spoif 
aiyl  without  chai^;ing:hisclothes.set  off  for  Cambridge. 
He,  soon  went  b^cfc.to  Cennecticut,  levied  a  regiment^ 
and  repaired  again  to  the  icamp*    la  a  little:  time  he  waa 
^mcrted  to  the  rank  of  major  ^eneraL    In  the  battle 
o|  Bunker's  hiU  he  exhibited  his:  usual  intrepidity.— 
Hedirected  the  meato  reserve  their  fii-e,  till  the  ene* 
my  v^,>fery  near,  reminded  them  of  their  skill,  and  tffld 
^em  to  take  good  aim.    They  did  so,  and  the  execu- 
tipn  was  terrible.    After  the  retreat,  he  made  a  stand  at 
flitter  hill  and  drove  back  the  enemy  under  cover  of 
their  ships.    When  the  army  was  organizeti  by  genend 
Washmgton  lA  Cambridge,  Putnam  was  appoiated  t» 
command  the  reserve.    In  Ai^ust  1776  he  was  sta- 
tioned at  Brooklyn,  on  Long  Island.    After  the  defeat 
.of  our  army  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  that  month,  he 
went  to  New-York  and  was  very  serviceable  in  the  city 
.and  neighborhood.    In  October  or  November  he  was 
sent  to  Philadelphia  to  fortify  that  city.    In  Januuy 
)777  he  waa  directed  to  take  post  at  Princeton,  wheh^ 
he  continued  until  spring.    At  this  place  a  sick  prison- 
er, a  caption,  requested  that  a  friend  in  the  British  ar- 
my at  Brunswick  might  be  sent  for  to  assist  him  in  mak- 
ing his  will.    Putnam  was  perplexed.     He  had  but  fif- 
ty men  under  his  command,  and  he  did  not  wish  to  have 
his  weakness  known ;  yet  he  was  unwilling  to  deny  the 
request.    He  however  sent  9  flag  of  ti  uce,  and  directed 
the^  officer  te  be  brought  in  the  iiight.     In  the  evening 
l^hts  were,  placed  in  all  the  college  windows,  and  in 
every  apartment  of  the  vacant  houses  throughout  the 


eU 


144 


BIOGRAPHY,    8CC. 


toWtii*  T!ie  officer  on  hit  return  reported  that  general 
Putnam's  army  could  not  condst  or  leta,  than  ibur  or 
five  tftouaand  ttien.  In  the  sprliig  he  iraa  appointed  to 
the  comihand  of  a  iiepa]:ate  army  In  the  highlanda  Of 
New-York.  One  Palmer,  a  lieutenant  in  the  tory  new 
levies,  was  detected  in  the  camp  ;  governor  T>7<Mi  re- 
clalttied  him  as  a  British  officer,  threatening  vdneeanice 
if  ho  was  not  restored.  Geiieral  Putn  am  wrote  the  fol- 
lowing pithy  reply  :  **  Sir,  Nathan  P  ilmer,  a  lieutenaait 
in  yoiii'  king's  service,  was  taken  in  m^  cainp  as  a  spy ; 
he  Wis  tried  as  a  spy ;  he  waf  condemned  as  a  spy  ;  and ' 
he  i^idl  be  hanged  as  a  spy.  P.  S.  Afternoon.  He  is 
hanged.'*  After  the  loss  of  fort  Montgomery,  the  com- 
SiaiKler  in  chief  determined  to  btiild  another  fortifica- 
tion, and  he  directed  Putnam  to  fix  upon  a  spot.  To  him 
beloiigs  the  praise  of  having  chosen  West  Point.  The 
campaign  of  1779,  which  was  prbcipally  spent  in 
strengthening  the  works  at  this  place,  finished  the  mili- 
tary career  of  Putnam.  A  paralytic  affection  impaired 
the  activiqr  of  his  body,  and  he  passed  the  remainder  of 
h&sdaysin  retirement,  retaining  his  relish  for  cnjoy- 
niicnt,  his  love  of  pleasantry*  his  strength  ofmemoiy, 
and  all  the  fiiculties  of  his  mind.  He  died  at  firooktint, 
Cimnecticut,  May  29,  1790,  aged  seventy-two  years. 


[^THE    END.'] 


a' 


W|»|i^ 


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•  tj.f  ■■ 


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